Valmiki Ramayana 1.39.19 — Bala Kanda, Sarga 39, Shloka 19

सगरयज्ञाश्वहरणम्

The Stolen Sacrificial Horse of Sagara

Devanagari script

नागानां मथ्यमानानामसुराणां च राघव ।राक्षसानां च दुर्धर्षस्सत्त्वानां निनदोऽभवत्।।1.39.19।।

Transliteration

nāgānāṁ mathyamānānām asurāṇāṁ ca rāghava |

rākṣasānāṁ ca durdharṣaḥ sattvānāṁ ninado 'bhavat ||1.39.19||

Translation

ഹേ രാഘവ, അവർ ആഴങ്ങളിൽ മഥിച്ചു കീറിക്കൊണ്ടിരിക്കുമ്പോൾ, നാഗന്മാരുടെയും അസുരന്മാരുടെയും രാക്ഷസന്മാരുടെയും അവിടെ കലങ്ങിയ മറ്റു ദുര്‍ധര്‍ഷ സത്ത്വങ്ങളുടെയും അസഹ്യമായ കോലാഹലം ഉയർന്നു.

Word by Word

• नागानाम्: of serpents
• नागानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन

• मथ्यमानानाम्: of those being churned/ground
• मथ्यमानानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मथ् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कालिक कर्मणि कृदन्त (Present Passive Participle/शानच्), पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; ‘being churned/tormented’

• असुराणाम्: of demons
• असुराणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• राघव: O Rāghava
• राघव: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राघव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन

• राक्षसानाम्: of rākṣasas
• राक्षसानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• दुर्धर्षः: irresistible/terrible
• दुर्धर्षः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर्धर्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन

• सत्त्वानाम्: of creatures/beings
• सत्त्वानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), बहुवचन

• निनदः: a roar/sound
• निनदः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निनद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता), एकवचन

• अभवत्: arose/occurred
• अभवत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Context

"O Brahman! I wish to listen in detail as to how my ancestors made preparations for the sacrifice? Prosperity to you"!.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma (Rāghava)
• nāgas
• asuras
• rākṣasas

FAQs

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

Dharma recognizes the interconnectedness of life: violent disruption in one realm produces suffering in others; righteous action must account for broader harm and unintended consequences.

What is the narrative situation?

The princes’ excavation agitates subterranean beings—nāgas, asuras, and rākṣasas—creating a terrifying uproar.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The verse emphasizes not a virtue but a warning: power used without restraint provokes resistance and disorder.