Valmiki Ramayana 1.1.42 — Bala Kanda, Sarga 1, Shloka 42

श्रीमद्रामायणकथासङ्क्षेपः / The Ramayana in Synopsis

Narada’s Summary to Valmiki

Devanagari script

अगस्त्यवचनाच्चैव जग्राहैन्द्रं शरासनम् ।।।।खड्गं च परमप्रीतस्तूणी चाक्षयसायकौ ।

Transliteration

agastyavacanāc caiva jagrāhaindraṃ śarāsanam |

khaḍgaṃ ca paramaprītas tūṇī cākṣayasāyakau ||

Translation

അഗസ്ത്യന്റെ വചനപ്രകാരം പരമാനന്ദത്തോടെ രാമൻ ഇന്ദ്രദത്തമായ ധനുസ്സും ശരാസനവും സ്വീകരിച്ചു; കൂടാതെ ഖഡ്ഗവും, അക്ഷയശരങ്ങൾ നിറഞ്ഞ തൂണുകളും ഏറ്റുവാങ്ങി.

Word by Word

• अगस्त्य-वचनात्: from Agastya's instruction
• अगस्त्य-वचनात्: Hetu/Apādāna (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अगस्त्य (प्रातिपदिक) + वचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (अगस्त्यस्य वचनम्) → 'अगस्त्यवचन'

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

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/अवधारण-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• जग्राह: took/received
• जग्राह: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ग्रह् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; धातुः ग्रह् (to take/receive)

• ऐन्द्रम्: Indra's (celestial)
• ऐन्द्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ऐन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifies शरासनम्)

• शरासनम्: bow
• शरासनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरासन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• खड्गम्: sword
• खड्गम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खड्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

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

• परम-प्रीतः: extremely delighted
• परम-प्रीतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रीत (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः कर्मधारयः (परमा प्रीतिः यस्य/परमप्रीतः)

• तूणी: quiver
• तूणी: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तूणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

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

• अक्षय-सायकौ: two inexhaustible arrows
• अक्षय-सायकौ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अक्षय (प्रातिपदिक) + सायक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), द्विवचन; समासः कर्मधारयः (अक्षयाः सायकाः)

Context

Having entered the dense forest Dandaka, Rama slew the demon Viradha and saw the sages Sarabhanga, Sutikshna and Agastya with his brother.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Agastya
• Indra
• Bow (aindra śarāsana)
• Sword (khaḍga)
• Quivers (tūṇī)

FAQs

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

Rightful power is received through legitimate guidance: weapons are accepted not for dominance, but for dharmic protection under a sage’s direction.

What is the narrative situation?

After meeting Agastya, Rāma receives celestial arms to continue the forest mission of safeguarding sages against destructive forces.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Obedience to wise counsel and disciplined preparedness—accepting capability as responsibility.