Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 67, Shloka 17

शिवधनुर्दर्शनं—रामेण धनुर्भङ्गश्च

The Showing of Śiva’s Bow and Rama’s Breaking of It

Devanagari script

आरोपयित्वा धर्मात्मा पूरयामास तद्धनु:।तद्बभञ्ज धनुर्मध्ये नरश्रेष्ठो महायशा:।।।।

Transliteration

āropayitvā dharmātmā pūrayāmāsa tad dhanuḥ | tad babhañja dhanur madhye naraśreṣṭho mahāyaśāḥ ||

Translation

ധനുസ്സിന് നാരുകെട്ടി ധർമ്മാത്മാവായ രാമൻ അതിനെ പൂർണ്ണമായി വലിച്ചു വളച്ചു; മഹായശസ്സുള്ള നരശ്രേഷ്ഠൻ ആ ധനുസ്സിനെ നടുവിൽ പൊട്ടിച്ചു.

Word by Word

• āropayitvā: having strung
• āropayitvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-ruh (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund/Absolutive), ‘having strung/fixed’

• dharmātmā: virtuous
• dharmātmā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक) + ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि; पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; कर्तृ-विशेषण

• pūrayāmāsa: drew (it) fully
• pūrayāmāsa: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pūr (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष (3rd) एकवचन; causative/denominative nuance ‘made full/drew (the bow)’

• tat: that
• tat: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन; ‘that’ (qualifying ‘dhanuḥ’)

• dhanuḥ: bow
• dhanuḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhanu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन; object of pūrayāmāsa

• tat: that (bow)
• tat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन; ‘that (bow)’ as object of babhañja

• babhañja: broke
• babhañja: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhañj (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष (3rd) एकवचन

• dhanuḥ: of the bow
• dhanuḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhanu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th) एकवचन; ‘of the bow’ (with madhye)

• madhye: in the middle
• madhye: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: madhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th) एकवचन; स्थानवाचक (locative of place)

• nara-śreṣṭhaḥ: best of men
• nara-śreṣṭhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara (प्रातिपदिक) + śreṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘best of men’); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन

• mahāyaśāḥ: highly renowned
• mahāyaśāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + yaśas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (‘great-famed’); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; कर्तृ-विशेषण

Context

Rama, the best among men, righteous and famous lifted the bow. Stringing it with a twang he drew it and broke it into two in the middle.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Śiva-dhanus (the great bow)

FAQs

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

Dharma as rightful achievement: the feat is not mere display, but the fulfillment of a lawful condition tied to Janaka’s truthful vow.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma completes the trial by drawing the bow; it snaps in the middle, proving unmatched prowess.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Heroic excellence (vīrya) guided by righteousness—strength that serves a just purpose.