Valmiki Ramayana 1.17.2: Bala Kanda, Sarga 17, Shloka 2

सप्तदशः सर्गः — देवसंवादः तथा वानर-ऋक्ष-उत्पत्तिः

Divine Council and the Generation of Vanara Allies

Devanagari script

सत्यसन्धस्य वीरस्य सर्वेषान्नो हितैषिण:।विष्णोस्सहायान्बलिनस्सृजध्वं कामरूपिण:।।।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 1.17.2

Transliteration

satyasandhasya vīrasya sarveṣāṁ no hitaiṣiṇaḥ |

viṣṇoḥ sahāyān balinaḥ sṛjadhvaṁ kāmarūpiṇaḥ ||

Translation

സത്യസന്ധനും വീരനും സർവ്വജനഹിതൈഷിയുമായ വിഷ്ണുവിന്നായി ബലവാന്മാരായ സഹായികളെ സൃഷ്ടിക്കുവിൻ—ഇഷ്ടമെന്നപോലെ രൂപം ധരിക്കാവുന്ന കാമരൂപികളായ കൂട്ടുകാരെ.

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Word by Word

• सत्यसन्धस्य: of the truth-pledged (one)
• सत्यसन्धस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत्यसन्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन; समास: सत्य + सन्ध (सत्ये सन्धिः यस्य) ‘true to his vow’; विशेषण

• वीरस्य: of the hero
• वीरस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन

• सर्वेषाम्: of all
• सर्वेषाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), बहुवचन; ‘all (of us/people)’

• नः: of us; our
• नः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), बहुवचन; ‘our’

• हितैषिणः: of the welfare-seeker
• हितैषिणः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हितैषिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन; समास: हित + एषिन् (हितम् एषते इति) ‘welfare-seeking’; विशेषण (रामस्य)

• विष्णोः: of Viṣṇu
• विष्णोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन

• सहायान्: helpers; companions
• सहायान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहाय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), बहुवचन; ‘सृजध्वम्’ इत्यस्य कर्म

• बलिनः: strong
• बलिनः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बलिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), बहुवचन; ‘सहायान्’ इत्यस्य विशेषण

• सृजध्वम्: create; produce
• सृजध्वम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सृज् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• कामरूपिणः: shape-shifting; able to take any form at will
• कामरूपिणः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कामरूपिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), बहुवचन; समास: काम + रूपिन् (कामेन रूपं यस्य) ‘able to assume forms at will’; ‘सहायान्’ इत्यस्य विशेषण

Context

Some monkeys with acknowledged, valour were born to female monkeys with tails Similarly some other monkeys were born to female bears and female kinnaras.

Characters & Entities

• Viṣṇu

FAQs

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

Dharma is upheld through truthful commitment (satya-sandha) and benevolent protection: power is to be created and used in service of universal welfare, not domination.

What is the narrative situation?

The gods initiate the creation of extraordinary allies to support Viṣṇu’s earthly mission (later manifest as Rāma’s cause), ensuring that righteousness has effective assistance.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Satya (truthfulness/steadfastness to vows) and hita (benevolence): Viṣṇu/Rāma is portrayed as unwavering in promise and committed to the good of all.