Valmiki Ramayana 1.21.14: Bala Kanda, Sarga 21, Shloka 14

बालकाण्डे एकविंशः सर्गः · Daśaratha’s Promise, Vasiṣṭha’s Counsel, and Viśvāmitra’s Weapon

Lore

Spoken by Vasistha to King Daśaratha

Devanagari script

तेऽपि पुत्रा भृशाश्वस्य प्रजापतिसुतासुताः ।

नैकरूपा महावीर्या दीप्तिमन्तो जयावहाः ॥१४॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 1.21.14

Transliteration

te ’pi putrā bhṛśāśvasya prajāpati-sutā-sutāḥ |

naika-rūpā mahā-vīryā dīptimanto jayāvahāḥ ||14||

Translation

അവരും ഭൃശാശ്വന്റെ പുത്രന്മാർ—പ്രജാപതിയുടെ പുത്രിയുടെ സന്തതികളായി—അനേകരൂപധാരികൾ, മഹാവീര്യശാലികൾ, ദീപ്തിമാന്മാർ, ജയപ്രദന്മാർ ആയിരുന്നു.

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Word by Word

• ते: they
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; सर्वनाम
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• अपि: also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अपि-शब्द (also/even)
• Role: Sambandha (समुच्चय)

• पुत्राः: sons
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• भृशाश्वस्य: of Bhṛśāśva
• Type: Noun
• Root: भृशाश्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)

• प्रजापतिसुतासुताः: grandsons of Prajāpati (through his daughter)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजापति-सुता-सुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (प्रजापतेः सुतायाः सुताः)
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• नैकरूपाः: of diverse forms
• Type: Adjective
• Root: न-एक-रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; नञ्-पूर्वपद; विशेषणम् (of many forms)
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• महावीर्याः: of great prowess
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा-वीर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (greatly powerful)
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)
• Compound: Karmadharaya

• दीप्तिमन्तः: radiant
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दीप्ति-मत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; मतुप्-प्रत्ययान्त (radiant)
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• जयावहाः: bringing victory
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जय-आवह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष (जयम् आवहन्ति इति)
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

Sandhi Notes

• तेऽपि = ते + अपि
• प्रजापतिसुतासुताः = प्रजापति + सुता + सुताः
• नैकरूपाः = न + एकरूपाः

Context

Grandsons (daughter's sons) of Prajapati, they (these weapons) are in diverse forms, highly energetic and full of glory they bring victory.

The teaching

Lineage and virtue are portrayed as carriers of protective power; radiance and victory symbolize dharma’s support through worthy progeny.

Ethical theme

Svadharma/vaṃśa-dharma (lineage duty)

For your practice

Contemplation on tejas and śakti as divine endowments; useful for meditating on protective forces aligned with dharma.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Adbhuta (wonder), with Vira (heroism)

Mood

Radiant, mythic, triumphant

Themes

• Dharma
• Genealogy
• Itihasa
• Ethics

Symbolism

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Bhṛśāśva
• Prajāpati
• Astra (weapons/powers)

FAQs

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

Dharma is sustained through worthy lineages and disciplined transmission: power is described as manifold and radiant, but implicitly to be used for rightful victory, not oppression.

What is the narrative situation?

The narration continues to magnify the origin and nature of the weapons/weapon-lineage connected with Viśvāmitra.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Legitimacy and excellence rooted in dharmic ancestry and recognized heroic potency.