Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 31, Shloka 10

Devanagari script

धनुषस्तस्य वीर्यं तु जिज्ञासन्तो महीक्षित:।न शेकुरारोपयितुं राजपुत्रा महाबला:।।1.31.10।।

Transliteration

dhanuṣas tasya vīryaṃ tu jijñāsanto mahīkṣitaḥ | na śekur āropayituṃ rājaputrā mahābalāḥ || 1.31.10 ||

Translation

ସେ ଧନୁଷର ବୀର୍ୟ ପରୀକ୍ଷା କରିବାକୁ ଇଚ୍ଛୁକ ମହାବଳୀ ରାଜାମାନେ ଓ ରାଜପୁତ୍ରମାନେ ମଧ୍ୟ ତାହାକୁ ନାରେରାଇବା ତ ଦୂର, ଉଠାଇବାକୁ ସୁଦ୍ଧା ସମର୍ଥ ହେଲେ ନାହିଁ।

Word by Word

• dhanuṣaḥ: of the bow
• dhanuṣaḥ: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठीसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhanus (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Genitive (6th), Singular; ‘of the bow’

• tasya: of that
• tasya: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठीसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Genitive (6th), Singular; reinforces reference to the same bow

• vīryam: prowess
• vīryam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vīrya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular; object of jijñāsantaḥ (desiring to know)

• tu: but/indeed
• tu: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (contrast/emphasis)

• jijñāsantaḥ: wishing to know
• jijñāsantaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √jñā (धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ) of desiderative stem (सन्नन्त: jijñās-), Masculine, Nominative (1st), Plural; qualifying rājaputrāḥ/mahīkṣitaḥ

• mahīkṣitaḥ: kings
• mahīkṣitaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahīkṣit (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st), Plural; ‘kings’ (lit. protectors of earth)

• na: not
• na: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle

• śekuḥ: were able
• śekuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śak (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd Person, Plural; parasmaipada; ‘were able’ (negated)

• āropayitum: to string/raise
• āropayitum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√ruh (धातु)
• Form: Causative infinitive (णिच् + तुमुन्): āropayitum ‘to raise/string (it)’

• rājaputrāḥ: princes
• rājaputrāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāja + putra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st), Plural; apposition to mahīkṣitaḥ

• mahābalāḥ: mighty-strong
• mahābalāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā + bala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st), Plural; bahuvrīhi: ‘mahā balaṃ yeṣām’ (those whose strength is great); qualifying rājaputrāḥ

Context

Mighty princes and kings have failed to string it, in their attempt to know its strength.

Characters & Entities

• Viśvāmitra
• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa
• Kings

FAQs

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

True worth is proven, not claimed: the bow becomes a measure of capability, discouraging false pride and emphasizing integrity (satya) in self-assessment.

What is the narrative situation?

Viśvāmitra describes the extraordinary bow at Mithilā and notes that many rulers tried and failed to lift/string it.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Humility before dharma: even mighty rulers are shown limited, preparing the ground for a divinely aligned accomplishment rather than mere bravado.