Valmiki Ramayana 1.38.24 — Bala Kanda, Sarga 38, Shloka 24

सगरस्य पुत्रलाभः

Sagara’s Boons, Progeny, and the Rise of the Sixty Thousand

Devanagari script

स कृत्वा निश्चयं राम सोपाध्यायगणस्तदा।।।।यज्ञकर्मणि वेदज्ञो यष्टुं समुपचक्रमे।

Transliteration

sa kṛtvā niścayaṃ rāma sopādhyāyagaṇas tadā | yajñakarmaṇi vedajño yaṣṭuṃ samupacakrame ||

Translation

ഹേ രാമ, യജ്ഞം ചെയ്യുമെന്ന ദൃഢനിശ്ചയം കൈക്കൊണ്ട്, വേദജ്ഞനായ സഗരൻ തന്റെ ഉപാധ്യായഗണത്തോടുകൂടെ അപ്പോൾ യജ്ഞകർമ്മത്തിന്റെ പ്രാരംഭവിധികൾ ആരംഭിച്ചു.

Word by Word

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन

• कृत्वा: having made/done
• कृत्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: √kṛ (धातु) → kṛtvā (क्त्वान्त)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive); पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having done)

• निश्चयम्: a decision
• निश्चयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: niścaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन

• राम: O Rāma
• राम: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• स-उपाध्याय-गणः: with the group of priests
• स-उपाध्याय-गणः: Sahakāraka (सह/साकं)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sa (प्रातिपदिक) + upādhyāya (प्रातिपदिक) + gaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन; सहार्थक-तत्पुरुषः (upādhyāyagaṇena saha = with the group of priests)

• तदा: then
• तदा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (temporal adverb)

• यज्ञ-कर्मणि: in the sacrificial rites
• यज्ञ-कर्मणि: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yajña (प्रातिपदिक) + karman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (yajñasya karma = sacrificial rite)

• वेद-ज्ञः: knower of the Vedas
• वेद-ज्ञः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: veda (प्रातिपदिक) + jña (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (vedaṃ jānāti iti)

• यष्टुम्: to sacrifice, to perform
• यष्टुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √yaj (धातु) → yaṣṭum (तुमुन्)
• Form: तुमुनन्त (infinitive); प्रयोजनार्थ (purpose: to perform sacrifice)

• समुपचक्रमे: undertook, commenced
• समुपचक्रमे: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-upa-√kram (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect); प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; ‘began/undertook’

Context

O Rama! having determined to perform a sacrifice, he (Sagara) versed in the Vedas, started the initiatory rites for the sacrifice in the company of high priests".ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē bālakāṇḍē aṣṭātriṅśassarga: 2Thus ends the thirtyeighth sarga of Balakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Sagara
• Veda
• yajña

FAQs

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

Dharma is shown as disciplined commitment to rightful action: a king does not act impulsively, but forms a clear resolve and proceeds according to Vedic procedure with qualified priests.

What is the narrative situation?

In Viśvāmitra’s narration about King Sagara, Sagara decides to conduct a sacrifice and begins its initiatory rites in the presence of his officiating priests.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Niścaya (steadfast resolve) guided by śāstra (Vedic knowledge) and proper counsel—Sagara’s seriousness and ritual propriety are highlighted.