Shloka 18

शिवधनुर्न्यासकथा तथा सीतोत्पत्तिविवाहशुल्क-निश्चयः

The Bow of Śiva: Its Deposit, Sītā’s Origin, and the Prowess-Brideprice Vow

Devanagari script

तेषां जिज्ञासमानानां वीर्यं धनुरुपाहृतम्।न शेकुर्ग्रहणे तस्य धनुषस्तोलनेऽपि वा।।1.66.18।।

Transliteration

teṣāṁ jijñāsamānānāṁ vīryaṁ dhanur upāhṛtam |

na śekur grahaṇe tasya dhanuṣas tolane 'pi vā ||1.66.18||

Translation

ಅವರು ತಮ್ಮ ಶಕ್ತಿಯನ್ನು ಪರೀಕ್ಷಿಸಲು ಬಯಸಿದಾಗ ಧನುಸ್ಸನ್ನು ತರಿಸಲಾಯಿತು; ಆದರೆ ಅದನ್ನು ಹಿಡಿಯಲೂ ಅವರಿಗೆ ಸಾಧ್ಯವಾಗಲಿಲ್ಲ—ಎತ್ತುವುದು ಇನ್ನೂ ದೂರ.

Word by Word

• teṣām: of them
• teṣām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, Bahuvacana

• jijñāsamānānām: of those desiring to know
• jijñāsamānānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ji-jñāsamāna (कृदन्त, √jñā धातु, desiderative)
• Form: Śānac (present middle participle), Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, Bahuvacana; 'of those wishing to know/test'

• vīryam: strength/prowess
• vīryam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vīrya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• dhanuḥ: the bow
• dhanuḥ: Karta (कर्ता; of passive upāhṛtam)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhanus (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• upāhṛtam: was brought
• upāhṛtam: Kriyā (क्रिया; passive predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: upa-ā-√hṛ (हृ धातु)
• Form: Kta (past passive participle), Napuṃsaka, Prathamā, Ekavacana; passive sense 'was brought'

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: negation particle

• śekuḥ: were able
• śekuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śak (शक् धातु)
• Form: Liṭ? actually Laṅ/Perfect-like form: here 'śekuḥ' is Liṭ (Perfect/लिट्) 3rd person plural parasmaipada; meaning 'were able'

• grahaṇe: in grasping
• grahaṇe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: grahaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Saptamī, Ekavacana; 'in grasping'

• tasya: of that
• tasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃ/Napuṃ, Ṣaṣṭhī, Ekavacana

• dhanuṣaḥ: of the bow
• dhanuṣaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhanus (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Ṣaṣṭhī, Ekavacana

• tolane: in lifting
• tolane: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tolana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Saptamī, Ekavacana; 'in lifting/weighing'

• api: even/also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: particle (also/even/अपि)

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: disjunctive particle (or/वा)

Context

O great ascetic! I knew those mighty kings had little strength, so rejected them.

Characters & Entities

• the bow (Śiva’s bow, dhanus)
• kings (nṛpa)

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

True worth must match claim: dharma exposes hollow pride—titles and ambition do not substitute for real capability.

What is the narrative situation?

The assembled kings attempt the bow-test but fail even to grasp or lift the bow.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Implied lesson of humility—recognizing limits when confronted with a genuine standard.