Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 20, Shloka 1

राज्ञः शङ्का

प्रत्याख्यानम् (Daśaratha’s Objections to Sending Rāma) — Bala Kanda, Sarga 20

Devanagari script

तच्छ्रुत्वा राजशार्दूलो विश्वामित्रस्य भाषितम्।मुहूर्तमिव निस्संज्ञस्संज्ञावानिदमब्रवीत्।।।।

Transliteration

tac chrutvā rājaśārdūlo viśvāmitrasya bhāṣitam |

muhūrtam iva nissaṃjñaḥ saṃjñāvān idam abravīt ||1.20.1||

Translation

ବିଶ୍ୱାମିତ୍ରଙ୍କ ବଚନ ଶୁଣି, ରାଜଶାର୍ଦୂଳ—ରାଜମାନଙ୍କ ମଧ୍ୟରେ ବାଘ ସମ—କ୍ଷଣମାତ୍ର ନିଷ୍ସଞ୍ଜ୍ଞ ହେଲେ; ପରେ ସଞ୍ଜ୍ଞା ପାଇ ଏହିପରି କହିଲେ।

Word by Word

• tat: that
• tat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• śrutvā: having heard
• śrutvā: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śru (श्रु धातु)
• Form: Absolutive (क्त्वा), 'having heard'

• rāja-śārdūlaḥ: tiger among kings
• rāja-śārdūlaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक) + śārdūla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'rājñām śārdūlaḥ' (tiger among kings)

• viśvāmitrasya: of Viśvāmitra
• viśvāmitrasya: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viśvāmitra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th), Singular

• bhāṣitam: what was spoken
• bhāṣitam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhāṣita (कृदन्त; √bhāṣ धातु PPP)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular; 'speech/utterance' (what was spoken)

• muhūrtam: for a moment
• muhūrtam: Kala-adhikarana (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muhūrta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Accusative, Singular; used adverbially with iva

• iva: as if
• iva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/comparison)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Comparative particle (उपमा-निपात)

• nissaṃjñaḥ: unconscious
• nissaṃjñaḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nis- (उपसर्ग) + saṃjñā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; privative adjective 'without consciousness'

• saṃjñāvān: regaining consciousness
• saṃjñāvān: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: saṃjñāvat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; 'possessed of consciousness'

• idam: this
• idam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Neuter, Accusative, Singular; object of abravīt

• abravīt: said
• abravīt: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √brū (ब्रू धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Singular

Context

On hearing Viswamitra, words the tiger among kings (Dasaratha) lost his senses for a moment and on regaining his consciousness spoke this way.

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Viśvāmitra

FAQs

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

Dharma can place a person between reverence for a sage’s demand and parental/royal responsibility; the verse shows the gravity of such moral tension before speech and decision.

What is the narrative situation?

Viśvāmitra has made a request (to take Rāma), and Daśaratha reacts with shock, briefly losing composure before responding.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Daśaratha’s eventual self-control—he regains awareness and speaks thoughtfully rather than remaining overwhelmed.