Valmiki Ramayana 1.21.19: Bala Kanda, Sarga 21, Shloka 19

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

Lore

Spoken by Vasistha to King DaśarathaSetting: Ayodhyā

Devanagari script

एवं वीर्यो महातेजा विश्वामित्रो महायशाः ।

न रामगमने राजन् संशयं कर्तुमर्हसि ॥१९॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 1.21.19

Transliteration

evaṃ vīryo mahātejā viśvāmitro mahāyaśāḥ |

na rāma-gamane rājan saṃśayaṃ kartum arhasi ||19||

Translation

ഇങ്ങനെയത്രേ മഹാതേജസ്സും മഹായശസ്സും ഉള്ള വിശ്വാമിത്ര മഹർഷിയുടെ വീര്യം. അതുകൊണ്ട്, രാജാവേ, രാമൻ അദ്ദേഹത്തോടൊപ്പം പോകുന്നതിൽ നീ സംശയം പുലർത്തരുത്.

Ask anything about this verse...Ask

Word by Word

• evam: thus
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: 'thus/in this way')
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)

• vīryaḥ: of such prowess
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vīrya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषणम् to viśvāmitraḥ
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• mahā-tejāḥ: greatly brilliant
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + tejas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय (descriptive: 'greatly radiant'); पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)
• Compound: Karmadharaya

• viśvāmitraḥ: Viśvāmitra
• Type: Noun
• Root: viśvāmitra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• mahā-yaśāḥ: highly renowned
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + yaśas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय (descriptive: 'great-famed'); पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)
• Compound: Karmadharaya

• na: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negation particle)
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)

• rāma-gamane: in/with regard to Rāma's going
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक) + gamana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive: 'Rāma's going' / 'sending Rāma'); नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन (Singular)
• Role: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• rājan: O king
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन (Singular)
• Role: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)

• saṃśayam: doubt
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṃśaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• kartum: to do/to entertain (doubt)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (कृ, धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive), क्रियार्थ (purpose/complement)
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• arhasi: you ought (to)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √arh (अर्ह्, धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada)
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया)

Sandhi Notes

• कर्तुमर्हसि = कर्तुम् + अर्हसि (म् + अ → म)
• rāmagamane is a tatpuruṣa compound

Context

Such is the prowess of Viswamitra who is a highly effulgent and highly renowned sage. O King! in sending Rama, you need not entertain any doubt.

The teaching

Do not let doubt obstruct a righteous mission when guided by a competent and renowned sage.

Duties in tension

• Paternal protection of Rāma
• Kṣatriya duty to assist a ṛṣi and uphold dharma
• Trust in a realized sage’s capability

Ethical theme

Rāja-dharma / sat-saṅga and śraddhā

How it resolves

Counsel-based reassurance toward dharmic compliance

For your practice

Cultivates śraddhā and surrender to dharmic guidance; reduces saṃśaya before action.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Vira (heroism), with Shanta (peace)

Mood

Assuring, resolute, confident

Themes

• Dharma
• Trust
• Rajadharma
• Guidance
• Ethics
• Itihasa

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Vasiṣṭha
• Daśaratha
• Viśvāmitra
• Rāma

FAQs

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

Right action requires trust in the righteous and competent. Doubt that obstructs a pledged duty is treated as a deviation from dharma.

What is the narrative situation?

Vasiṣṭha assures Daśaratha that Viśvāmitra is powerful and trustworthy, and that sending Rāma is appropriate.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Practical wisdom in leadership: accepting sound counsel and acting without paralyzing doubt when dharma is clear.