Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 59, Shloka 21

विश्वामित्रस्य शरणागति-प्रशंसा तथा वासिष्ठपुत्र-शापः

Visvamitra grants refuge; the curse upon Vasishta’s sons

Devanagari script

प्राणातिपातनिरतो निरनुक्रोशतां गत:।दीर्घकालं मम क्रोधाद्दुर्गतिं वर्तयिष्यति।।1.59.21।।

Transliteration

prāṇātipātanirato niranukrośatāṃ gataḥ | dīrghakālaṃ mama krodhād durgatiṃ vartayiṣyati ||

Translation

Terjerumus dalam pembunuhan nyawa dan jatuh ke dalam kekejaman tanpa belas kasihan; kerana kemurkaan beta, dia akan menanggung keadaan yang hina dan sengsara untuk waktu yang lama.

Word by Word

• prāṇa-atipātanirataḥ: devoted to killing living beings
• prāṇa-atipātanirataḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier of implied mahodayaḥ)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prāṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + atipātana (प्रातिपदिक) + nirata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष; prāṇānām atipātane nirataḥ), Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• niranukrośatām: mercilessness
• niranukrośatām: Karma (कर्म/Object with gataḥ: ‘having reached’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: niranukrośatā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (Feminine/स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; abstract noun in -tā

• gataḥ: having attained
• gataḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject complement)
• Type: Verb
• Root: gam (गम् धातु)
• Form: Kta (क्त) participle, Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; ‘having gone/attained’

• dīrgha-kālam: for a long time
• dīrgha-kālam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Duration)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dīrgha (प्रातिपदिक) + kāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya (कर्मधारय), Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; adverbial accusative of duration

• mama: my
• mama: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Ṣaṣṭhī (Genitive), Ekavacana; 1st person pronoun

• krodhāt: from/because of (my) anger
• krodhāt: Hetu/Apādāna (हेतु/अपादान; Cause/Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: krodha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Pañcamī (Ablative/पञ्चमी), Ekavacana

• durgatim: misery/evil state
• durgatim: Karma (कर्म/Object of vartayiṣyati)
• Type: Noun
• Root: durgati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• vartayiṣyati: will undergo/continue
• vartayiṣyati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vṛt (वृत् धातु)
• Form: Luṭ-lakāra (Future/लुट्), Prathama-puruṣa, Ekavacana, Parasmaipada; causative/ṇij sense ‘to make continue/undergo’

Context

The most powerful sage Viswamitra of fierce asceticism fell silent after after utteringthis curse in the assembly of rishis.ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē bālakāṇḍē ēkōnaṣaṣṭitamassarga:৷৷Thus ends the fiftyninth sarga of Balakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.

Characters & Entities

• Viśvāmitra
• ṛṣis (assembly)

FAQs

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

Cruelty and habitual violence lead to downfall; dharma is inseparable from compassion, and its violation brings severe consequence.

What is the narrative situation?

Viśvāmitra pronounces a punitive outcome (a curse) upon one characterized by merciless killing, in the presence of other sages.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Moral accountability—actions devoid of mercy invite retribution and suffering.