Valmiki Ramayana 2.118.43 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 118, Shloka 43

अनसूयोपदेशः तथा सीताया स्वयंवरकथा

Anasuya’s Counsel and Sita’s Swayamvara Narrative

Devanagari script

तच्च दृष्ट्वा धनुश्श्रेष्ठं गौरवाद्गिरिसन्निभम्। अभिवाद्य नृपा जग्मुरशक्तास्तस्य तोलने।।2.118.43।।

Transliteration

tac ca dṛṣṭvā dhanuḥśreṣṭhaṃ gauravād giri-sannibham | abhivādya nṛpā jagmur aśaktās tasya tolane || 2.118.43 ||

Translation

പർവ്വതസമമായ ഭാരമുള്ള ആ ശ്രേഷ്ഠധനുസ്സ് കണ്ടപ്പോൾ, അതിനെ ഉയർത്താൻ പോലും അശക്തരായ രാജാക്കന്മാർ ആദരത്തോടെ വന്ദിച്ച് മടങ്ങിപ്പോയി.

Word by Word

• तत्: that (bow)
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्यय (Absolutive), ‘having seen’

• धनुःश्रेष्ठम्: the best bow
• धनुःश्रेष्ठम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनुःश्रेष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समास: धनुः + श्रेष्ठ

• गौरवात्: due to heaviness
• गौरवात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गौरव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचन

• गिरिसन्निभम्: resembling a mountain
• गिरिसन्निभम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गिरिसन्निभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण धनुःश्रेष्ठम्; समास: गिरि + सन्निभ (mountain-like)

• अभिवाद्य: having paid obeisance
• अभिवाद्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि + वद् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्यय (Absolutive), ‘having saluted’

• नृपाः: kings
• नृपाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• जग्मुः: went away
• जग्मुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• अशक्ताः: unable
• अशक्ताः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अशक्त (प्रातिपदिक; नञ् + शक्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण नृपाः

• तस्य: of it
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी, एकवचन

• तोलने: in lifting
• तोलने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तोलन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

Context

Beholding the mighty bow resembling a mountain in weight, the kings, unable to lift it, paid their homage and left.

Characters & Entities

• kings (nṛpāḥ)

FAQs

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

Humility before reality: dharma includes recognizing limits and offering respect rather than resorting to envy or disorder.

What is the narrative situation?

The assembled kings inspect the bow, fail to lift it, then formally withdraw.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The kings’ outward decorum—saluting and leaving—reflects royal propriety (maryādā), even in failure.