Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 54, Shloka 20

शबलाहरणम्

The Attempted Seizure of Sabalā (Kāmadhenu) and the Triumph of Brahmic Power

Devanagari script

विश्वामित्रार्दितान् दृष्ट्वा पप्लवाञ्छतशस्तदा।भूय एवासृजत्कोपाच्छकान् यवनमिश्रितान्।।।।

Transliteration

viśvāmitrārditān dṛṣṭvā paplavān śataśas tadā | bhūya evāsṛjat kopāc chakān yavanamiśritān ||

Translation

Melihat Paplava yang beratus-ratus itu ditewaskan oleh Viśvāmitra, ia sekali lagi—kerana murka—mencipta kaum Śaka, bercampur dengan Yavana.

Word by Word

• विश्वामित्रार्दितान्: afflicted by Viśvāmitra
• विश्वामित्रार्दितान्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विश्वामित्र-आर्दित (प्रातिपदिक; अर्द्/अर्दय् धातु-निष्पन्न कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; भूतकृदन्त ‘आर्दित’ = ‘afflicted’; तत्पुरुषः—विश्वामित्रेण आर्दितान्

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु) + त्वा
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund)

• पप्लवान्: the Paplavas
• पप्लवान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पप्लव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• शतशः: by hundreds
• शतशः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: शतशस् (अव्यय)
• Form: परिमाणवाचक-अव्यय

• तदा: then
• तदा: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय

• भूयः: again
• भूयः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भूयस् (अव्यय)
• Form: पुनरर्थक-अव्यय (adverb: ‘again’)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• असृजत्: created
• असृजत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सृज् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• कोपात्: out of anger
• कोपात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कोप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी विभक्ति (Ablative/अपादान), एकवचन

• शकान्: Śakas
• शकान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• यवनमिश्रितान्: mixed with Yavanas
• यवनमिश्रितान्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यवन-मिश्रित (प्रातिपदिक; मिश्र् धातु-निष्पन्न कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; भूतकृदन्त ‘मिश्रित’ = ‘mixed’; तत्पुरुषः—यवनैः मिश्रितान्

Context

Having seen hundreds of Paplavas crushed by Viswamitra, once again she created out of anger. Sakas mixed with Yavanas.

Characters & Entities

• Viśvāmitra
• Śabalā (implied as creator)

FAQs

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

The verse illustrates how conflict can spiral when met with retaliatory anger; dharma ideally seeks restraint, yet also acknowledges the need to protect the righteous when attacked.

What is the narrative situation?

After Viśvāmitra destroys the Paplavas, Śabalā responds by creating additional warrior-groups identified as Śakas mixed with Yavanas.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Protective resolve (though expressed through anger): a determination to defend Vasiṣṭha’s dharmic domain against aggression.