Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 67, Shloka 20

शिवधनुर्दर्शनं—रामेण धनुर्भङ्गश्च

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

Devanagari script

प्रत्याश्वस्ते जने तस्मिन्राजा विगतसाध्वस:।उवाच प्राञ्जलिर्वाक्यं वाक्यज्ञो मुनिपुङ्गवम्।।।।

Transliteration

pratyāśvaste jane tasmin rājā vigata-sādhvasaḥ | uvāca prāñjalir vākyaṃ vākyajño muni-puṅgavam ||

Translation

ເມື່ອຝູງຊົນໄດ້ຟື້ນສະຕິຄືນ ພະຣາຊາຜູ້ພົ້ນຈາກຄວາມຢ້ານ ໄດ້ປະນົມມື ແລະກ່າວຖ້ອຍຄຳອັນສົມຄວນ ຕໍ່ມຸນີຜູ້ເປັນຍອດແຫ່ງ຤ິສີ

Word by Word

• pratyāśvaste: when (they) had recovered
• pratyāśvaste: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: prati-ā-śvas (धातु)
• Form: सप्तमी-एकवचन स्थिते सति प्रयोग; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP) ‘pratyāśvasta’ + सप्तमी एकवचन; ‘when (the people) had recovered/been reassured’

• jane: among the people
• jane: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th) एकवचन; locative absolute component

• tasmin: in that
• tasmin: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, सप्तमी एकवचन; ‘in that’ (qualifying jane)

• rājā: the king
• rājā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन

• vigata-sādhvasaḥ: free from fear
• vigata-sādhvasaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vigata (प्रातिपदिक) + sādhvasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (नञ्/उपपदभाव: ‘fear gone’); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; rājā-विशेषण

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष एकवचन

• prāñjaliḥ: with folded palms
• prāñjaliḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prāñjali (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; ‘with folded hands’ (predicate adjective of rājā)

• vākyam: words / a statement
• vākyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vākya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन; object of uvāca

• vākyajñaḥ: skilled in speech
• vākyajñaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vākya (प्रातिपदिक) + jña (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (‘knower of speech/meaning’); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; rājā-विशेषण

• muni-puṅgavam: to the foremost sage
• muni-puṅgavam: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (प्रातिपदिक) + puṅgava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (‘bull among sages’); पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन; संबोधन-प्रयोजनार्थं कर्म (object addressed)

Context

When the people recovered the king skilful in the use of words addressed the eminent ascetic without apprehension with folded palms in the following words:

Characters & Entities

• Janaka
• Viśvāmitra

FAQs

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

Dharma as reverence and humility toward sages: even a king approaches spiritual authority with respectful posture and measured speech.

What is the narrative situation?

After the bow’s thunderous break and the crowd’s recovery, Janaka formally turns to Viśvāmitra to speak.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Janaka’s humility and self-possession—fearless yet respectful, eloquent yet restrained.