Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 40, Shloka 4

सगरपुत्राणां रसातलगमनम्

The Descent of Sagara’s Sons and the Wrath of Kapila

Devanagari script

पितामहवचश्श्रुत्वा त्रयस्त्रिंशदरिन्दम।।।।देवा: परमसंहृष्टा: पुनर्जग्मुर्यथागतम्।

Transliteration

pitāmahavacaḥ śrutvā trayastriṃśadarindama | devāḥ paramasaṃhṛṣṭāḥ punar jagmur yathāgatam |

Translation

Wahai penunduk musuh, setelah mendengar sabda Sang Pitāmaha (Brahmā), para dewa yang tiga puluh tiga itu amat bersukacita, lalu kembali melalui jalan yang sama seperti kedatangan mereka.

Word by Word

• pitāmaha-vacaḥ: the grandsire’s words
• pitāmaha-vacaḥ: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitāmaha + vacas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (pitāmahasya vacaḥ = ‘grandsire’s words’)

• śrutvā: having heard
• śrutvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Converb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śru (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund), अव्ययवत् प्रयोग; ‘having heard’

• trayastriṃśat: thirty-three
• trayastriṃśat: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: trayastriṃśat (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् संख्या (indeclinable numeral in usage); ‘thirty-three’, qualifying devāḥ

• arindama: O subduer of enemies
• arindama: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: arindama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन; संबोधन-पद

• devāḥ: the gods
• devāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• parama-saṃhṛṣṭāḥ: exceedingly delighted
• parama-saṃhṛṣṭāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parama + saṃhṛṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्मधारय (paramaḥ saṃhṛṣṭāḥ = ‘exceedingly delighted’)

• punaḥ: again
• punaḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: punaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: again/back)

• jagmuḥ: went/returned
• jagmuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √gam (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• yathāgatam: as they had come
• yathāgatam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā + āgata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव (adverbial compound): ‘as (they had) come’; used adverbially with jagmuḥ

Context

"O Destroyer of enemies! (Rama) On hearing the words of the grandsire (Brahma), the thirtythree gods, exceedingly delighted returned the way they had come.

Characters & Entities

• Pitāmaha (Brahmā)
• Devas (thirty-three gods)

FAQs

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

Dharma is upheld through respect for rightful authority and truthful instruction. The gods’ orderly return after Brahmā’s words reflects alignment with cosmic law rather than impulsive action.

What is the narrative situation?

After Brahmā speaks, the group of gods departs, satisfied, returning along the path they came.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Obedience to rightful guidance and harmony with cosmic order (ṛta/dharma) are emphasized.