Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 38, Shloka 12

सगरस्य पुत्रलाभः

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

Devanagari script

एको वंशकरो वाऽस्तु बहवो वा महाबला:।कीर्तिमन्तो महोत्साहा: का वा कं वरमिच्छति।।।।

Transliteration

eko vaṃśa-karo vā ’stu bahavo vā mahā-balāḥ | kīrtimanto mahotsāhāḥ kā vā kaṃ varam icchati || 1.38.12 ||

Translation

Baginda berkata: “Mahukah kamu seorang putera penerus keturunan, atau ramai putera yang maha perkasa, termasyhur, dan bersemangat besar? Antara kamu berdua, siapa memilih anugerah yang mana?”

Word by Word

• एकः: one
• एकः: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifies vaṃśakaraḥ)

• वंशकरः: a perpetuator of the line
• वंशकरः: कर्ता (of implied 'be')
• Type: Noun
• Root: वंशकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (vaṃśa + kara = 'maker of lineage')

• वा: or
• वा: समुच्चय/विकल्प (connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (disjunctive particle: 'or')

• अस्तु: let there be
• अस्तु: क्रिया
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative/optative sense 'let there be'), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• बहवः: many
• बहवः: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifies mahābalāḥ etc.)

• वा: or
• वा: समुच्चय/विकल्प
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय

• महाबलाः: mighty/strong
• महाबलाः: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महाबल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः (mahā + bala = 'great strength')

• कीर्तिमन्तः: famed / possessing renown
• कीर्तिमन्तः: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कीर्तिमन्त् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; मतुप्-प्रत्ययान्त (possessive adjective)

• महोत्साहाः: high-spirited / of great effort
• महोत्साहाः: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महोत्साह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः (mahā + utsāha = 'great energy/enterprise')

• का: who (which woman)
• का: कर्ता (of icchati)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; प्रश्नवाचक-सर्वनाम (interrogative pronoun)

• वा: then / or
• वा: निपात (particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्प/अनिश्चितार्थक (adds indefiniteness: 'indeed/then/or')

• कम्: which (one)
• कम्: कर्म
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; प्रश्नवाचक-सर्वनाम

• वरम्: boon
• वरम्: कर्म (object of icchati)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• इच्छति: desires
• इच्छति: क्रिया
• Type: Verb
• Root: इष्/इच्छ् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

Context

'What would you wish? One son who perpetuates the race or many possessed of mighty strength endowed with fame and perseverance?' (asked Bhrugu).

Characters & Entities

• Bhṛgu
• Vaṃśa (dynasty/lineage)
• Keśinī
• Sumatī

FAQs

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

Prioritizing rightful ends: sustaining a righteous lineage (vaṃśa) is presented as a distinct dharmic good alongside power and fame.

What is the narrative situation?

Bhṛgu frames the options of the boon so the queens can decide between a single dynastic heir or many powerful sons.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Prudence in choosing: the verse highlights discernment between quantity of power and continuity of rightful succession.