Valmiki Ramayana 1.33.4 — Bala Kanda, Sarga 33, Shloka 4

कुशनाभकन्याशतविवाहः — The Marriage of Kuśanābha’s Hundred Daughters

and the Birth of Brahmadatta

Devanagari script

तेन पापानुबन्धेन वचनं न प्रतीच्छता।एवं ब्रुवन्त्यस्सर्वास्स्म वायुना निहता भृशम्।।1.33.4।।

Transliteration

tena pāpānubandhena vacanaṁ na pratīcchatā | evaṁ bruvantyaḥ sarvāḥ sma vāyunā nihatā bhṛśam || 1.33.4 ||

Translation

പാപബന്ധത്തിൽ കുടുങ്ങി ഞങ്ങളുടെ വാക്ക് സ്വീകരിക്കാതിരുന്ന അവൻ, ഞങ്ങൾ എല്ലാവരും ഇങ്ങനെ പറയുമ്പോൾ, വായുവിന്റെ പ്രബലവേഗത്താൽ ഞങ്ങളെ കഠിനമായി പ്രഹരിച്ചു.

Word by Word

• तेन: by him/thereby
• तेन: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (m./n.), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instr. 3rd), एकवचन (Sg.)

• पापानुबन्धेन: by the sinful connection/taint
• पापानुबन्धेन: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप + अनुबन्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (determinative): पापस्य अनुबन्धः; पुंलिङ्ग (m.), तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• वचनम्: words; statement
• वचनम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Acc. 2nd), एकवचन (Sg.)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation)

• प्रतीच्छता: (by him) not accepting
• प्रतीच्छता: Karana (करण/Instrumental agentive circumstance)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति + इ (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमान-कृदन्त (present active participle); पुंलिङ्ग (m.), तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; 'by (him) not accepting'

• एवम्: thus; in this way
• एवम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: रीति-अव्यय (adverb of manner)

• ब्रुवन्त्यः: speaking
• ब्रुवन्त्यः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमान-कृदन्त; स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; 'while speaking'

• सर्वाः: all
• सर्वाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• स्म: indeed/just (particle)
• स्म: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्म (अव्यय)
• Form: स्म-निपात (particle)

• वायुना: by the wind
• वायुना: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वायु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instr. 3rd), एकवचन (Sg.)

• निहताः: were struck/smitten
• निहताः: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि + हन् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle); स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; 'were struck down'

• भृशम्: greatly; severely
• भृशम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भृशम् (अव्यय)
• Form: परिमाण/तीव्रता-अव्यय (adverb: intensity)

Context

As all of us were speaking thus, the sinful Wind-god, disregarding our words repeatedly assaulted us.

Characters & Entities

• Vāyu (Wind-god)

FAQs

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

It implicitly condemns coercion and refusal to heed rightful speech; ignoring consent and moral counsel is framed as ‘pāpa-anubandha’—a sinful trajectory.

What is the narrative situation?

After the daughters refuse and insist on proper procedure, Vāyu reacts violently and harms them with wind-force.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The daughters’ steadfastness in lawful speech is contrasted with Vāyu’s lack of restraint; the virtue highlighted is moral firmness under intimidation.