Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 67, Shloka 14

शिवधनुर्दर्शनं—रामेण धनुर्भङ्गश्च

The Showing of Śiva’s Bow and Rama’s Breaking of It

Devanagari script

इदं धनुर्वरं ब्रह्मन् संस्पृशामीह पाणिना।यत्नवांश्च भविष्यामि तोलने पूरणेऽपि वा।।।।

Transliteration

idaṃ dhanurvaraṃ brahman saṃspṛśāmīha pāṇinā | yatnavāṃś ca bhaviṣyāmi tolane pūraṇe 'pi vā || 1.67.14 ||

Translation

“ໂອ ພຣາຫມັນຜູ້ຄວນຄາລະວະ, ຂ້າພະເຈົ້າຈະຂໍແຕະຄັນທະນູອັນປະເສີດນີ້ດ້ວຍມືໄດ້ບໍ? ຂ້າພະເຈົ້າຈະພາກພຽນຢ່າງເຕັມທີ່ ບໍ່ວ່າຈະຍົກຂຶ້ນ ຫຼືແມ່ນແຕ່ຂຶ້ນສາຍກໍຕາມ”

Word by Word

• idam: this
• idam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• dhanurvaram: excellent bow
• dhanurvaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhanus + vara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; कर्मधारयः

• brahman: O Brahman
• brahman: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga, Sambodhana, Ekavacana

• saṃspṛśāmi: I touch
• saṃspṛśāmi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam + spṛś (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra, Uttama-puruṣa (1st person), Ekavacana; Parasmaipada

• iha: here/now
• iha: Deśa/Kāla (देश/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iha (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (देश/कालवाचक)

• pāṇinā: with (my) hand
• pāṇinā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāṇi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Ekavacana

• yatnavān: endeavouring
• yatnavān: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yatna-vat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; possessive adjective (मतुप्/वत्)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• bhaviṣyāmi: I shall be / I will become
• bhaviṣyāmi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: Luṭ-lakāra (periphrastic future/लुट्), Uttama-puruṣa, Ekavacana; Parasmaipada

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

• pūraṇe: in stringing
• pūraṇe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pūraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Saptamī, Ekavacana

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

• vā: or
• vā: Vikalpa (विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Disjunctive particle (विकल्प)

Context

"O Brahmarshi, shall I touch this great bow with my hands lift and string it".

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Viśvāmitra
• the bow (Śiva-dhanus / Pināka)

FAQs

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

Dharma as disciplined power: even when capable, Rāma seeks permission and frames his action as effort in service of the rightful test, aligning strength with humility and truthfulness.

What is the narrative situation?

After seeing the bow, Rāma addresses Viśvāmitra and asks about touching and attempting to lift/string it.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s humility and self-control—strength is shown as governed by respect for the guru and the court’s order.