Valmiki Ramayana 1.2.23: Bala Kanda, Sarga 2, Shloka 23

द्वितीयः सर्गः — श्लोकप्रादुर्भावः

The Manifestation of the Śloka

Devanagari script

आजगाम ततो ब्रह्मा लोककर्ता स्वयं प्रभु: ।चतुर्मुखो महातेजा द्रष्टुं तं मुनिपुङ्गवम् ।।1.2.23।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 1.2.23

Transliteration

ājagāma tato brahmā lokakartā svayaṃ prabhuḥ | caturmukho mahātejā draṣṭuṃ taṃ munipuṅgavam ||1.2.23||

Translation

Pada saat itu datanglah Brahmā, Tuhan Yang Maha Berkuasa, pencipta segala loka; yang bermuka empat dan bercahaya agung, datang sendiri untuk menemui resi utama itu.

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Word by Word

• आजगाम: arrived
• आजगाम: Kriyā (क्रिया/Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-गम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect); प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• ततः: then/thereupon
• ततः: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Temporal)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: काल/देश-अव्यय (adverb of time/place)

• ब्रह्मा: Brahmā
• ब्रह्मा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• लोककर्ता: creator of the worlds
• लोककर्ता: Karta (कर्ता/Subject apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक + कर्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (lokānāṃ kartā)

• स्वयम्: himself
• स्वयम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम् (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle/adverb)

• प्रभुः: lord
• प्रभुः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• चतुर्मुखः: four-faced
• चतुर्मुखः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier of Brahmā)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर् + मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि (yasya catvāri mukhāni saḥ)

• महातेजाः: greatly radiant
• महातेजाः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् + तेजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि (mahā tejas yasya saḥ)

• द्रष्टुम्: to see
• द्रष्टुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/Purpose)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्यय (infinitive); ‘to see’

• तम्: him (Vālmīki)
• तम्: Karma (कर्म/Object of seeing)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• मुनिपुङ्गवम्: the best of sages
• मुनिपुङ्गवम्: Karma (कर्म/Object apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि + पुङ्गव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (munīnām puṅgavaḥ)

Context

At that moment, the effulgent, four-faced Brahma, creator and lord of the world, himself, desirous of seeing him (Valmiki), the best among sages, arrived.

Characters & Entities

• Brahmā
• Vālmīki

FAQs

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

Dharma is portrayed as divinely supported: truthful, righteous narration of human conduct is worthy of divine attention and sanction.

What is the narrative situation?

Brahmā arrives to meet Vālmīki, setting the stage for the commissioning of the Rāmāyaṇa as itihāsa.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Vālmīki’s spiritual stature—he is ‘foremost among sages,’ fit to receive divine instruction.