Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 45, Shloka 19

विशालानगरीप्रवेशः

Entry toward Viśālā and the Indra–Kṣīrodamathana Legend

Devanagari script

अथ वर्षसहस्रेण योक्त्रसर्पशिरांसि च।वमन्त्यति विषं तत्र ददंशुर्दशनैश्शिला:।।।।

Transliteration

atha varṣasahasreṇa yoktra-sarpa-śirāṃsi ca | vamanty ati-viṣaṃ tatra dadaṃśur daśanaiḥ śilāḥ ||

Translation

मग हजार वर्षांनी, दोर झालेल्या सर्पाच्या मुखांनी तेथे अत्यंत भयंकर विष ओकू लागले आणि दातांनी पर्वताच्या शिळा चावू लागले।

Word by Word

• atha: then
• atha: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable particle/adverb); अनन्तरार्थे (then/thereafter)

• varṣa-sahasreṇa: after a thousand years
• varṣa-sahasreṇa: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: varṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + sahasra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative): वर्षाणां सहस्रम् (a thousand of years); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (instrumental/3rd), एकवचन

• yoktra-sarpa-śirāṃsi: the serpent-heads (as rope)
• yoktra-sarpa-śirāṃsi: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yoktra (प्रातिपदिक) + sarpa (प्रातिपदिक) + śiras (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (determinative chain): योक्त्ररूपस्य सर्पस्य शिरांसि (the heads/hoods of the serpent used as rope); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (and)

• vamanti: they vomit/emit
• vamanti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vam (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; धातु: √वम् (to vomit/emit)

• ati: exceedingly
• ati: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ati (अव्यय)
• Form: उपसर्ग/अव्यय (prefix-like intensifier); अतिशयार्थे (excessively/very)

• viṣam: poison
• viṣam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• tatra: there
• tatra: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देशाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb)

• dadaṃśuḥ: they bit
• dadaṃśuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: daṃś (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; धातु: √दंश् (to bite)

• daśanaiḥ: with (their) teeth
• daśanaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daśana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• śilāḥ: rocks
• śilāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śilā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), प्रथमा, बहुवचन

Context

After a thousand years, the hoods of the snake made as rope vomitted venom and started biting the rocks of the Mandara mountain with their teeth.

Characters & Entities

• Viśvāmitra
• Rāma
• Vāsuki (implied by serpent-rope)
• Mandara (implied by mountain/rocks)
• viṣa (poison)

FAQs

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

The verse underscores consequence-awareness: even righteous aims can produce danger (poison) during effort; dharma requires responsibility for harmful byproducts and protection of others through truthful acknowledgment of risk.

What is the narrative situation?

As the churning continues for a long time, poison emerges; the serpent-rope’s heads spew venom and damage the mountain’s rocks.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Endurance under hardship and the implicit need for restraint—powerful forces, if unchecked, become destructive.