Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 62, Shloka 20

शुनश्शेफरक्षा–विश्वामित्रशापः

Sunassepha’s Rescue and Visvamitra’s Curse

Devanagari script

इमे तु गाथे द्वे दिव्ये गायेथा मुनिपुत्रक।अम्बरीषस्य यज्ञेऽस्मिंस्तत स्सिद्धिमवाप्स्यसि।।।।

Transliteration

ime tu gāthe dve divye gāyethā muni-putraka | ambarīṣasya yajñe ’smin tataḥ siddhim avāpsyasi ||

Translation

Namun, wahai putera resi, lantunkanlah dua gāthā yang suci dan ilahi ini dalam yajña Ambarīṣa; nescaya engkau akan memperoleh kejayaan.

Word by Word

• इमे: these
• इमे: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया द्विवचन (Nom/Acc Dual); विशेषणं 'गाथे' इति

• तु: indeed
• तु: सम्बन्धसूचक (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), emphasis/contrast

• गाथे: two verses (gāthās)
• गाथे: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गाथा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया द्विवचन (Accusative Dual) (object of 'गायेथा')

• द्वे: two
• द्वे: विशेषण (Numeral qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया द्विवचन; संख्याविशेषणं 'गाथे' इति

• दिव्ये: divine, sacred
• दिव्ये: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया द्विवचन; विशेषणं 'गाथे' इति

• गायेथा: chant/sing
• गायेथा: क्रिया (Main verb/command)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गै (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन, आत्मनेपद

• मुनिपुत्रक: O son of the sage
• मुनिपुत्रक: सम्बोधन (Address/Vocative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक) + पुत्रक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास: मुनेः पुत्रकः; पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-एकवचन (Vocative Singular)

• अम्बरीषस्य: of Ambarīṣa
• अम्बरीषस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अम्बरीष (प्रातिपदिक; नाम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी एकवचन (Genitive Singular)

• यज्ञे: in the sacrifice
• यज्ञे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी एकवचन (Locative Singular/अधिकरण)

• अस्मिन्: in this
• अस्मिन्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) (अस्मिन्-रूप)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी एकवचन; विशेषणं 'यज्ञे' इति

• ततः: then, thereafter
• ततः: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb): "thereafter/then"

• सिद्धिम्: success, accomplishment
• सिद्धिम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सिद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन (Accusative Singular)

• अवाप्स्यसि: you will obtain
• अवाप्स्यसि: क्रिया (Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव + आप् (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple future), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

Context

O Son of sage! chant thse two sacred mantras in the sacrifice of Ambarisha.There after you will achieve success (long life)".

Characters & Entities

• Viśvāmitra
• Śunaḥśepa
• Ambarīṣa
• Yajña (sacrifice)

FAQs

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

Dharma is upheld through correct sacred speech: truthful, disciplined mantra-recitation aligned with ritual order is presented as a means to protection and success.

What is the narrative situation?

Viśvāmitra instructs Śunaḥśepa to use two sacred gāthās in King Ambarīṣa’s sacrifice to secure a favorable outcome.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Teachability and faith in dharmic method—Śunaḥśepa is guided to rely on sacred knowledge rather than fear.