Valmiki Ramayana 1.39.20 — Bala Kanda, Sarga 39, Shloka 20

सगरयज्ञाश्वहरणम्

The Stolen Sacrificial Horse of Sagara

Devanagari script

योजनानां सहस्राणि षष्टिं तु रघुनन्दन ।बिभिदुर्धरणीं वीरा: रसातलमनुत्तमम्।।1.39.20।।

Transliteration

yojanānāṁ sahasrāṇi ṣaṣṭiṁ tu raghunandana |

bibhidur dharaṇīṁ vīrāḥ rasātalam anuttamam || 1.39.20 ||

Translation

ହେ ରଘୁନନ୍ଦନ, ସଗରଙ୍କ ବୀର ପୁତ୍ରମାନେ ଷଷ୍ଟି ସହସ୍ର ଯୋଜନ ପର୍ଯ୍ୟନ୍ତ ଧରଣୀକୁ ଭେଦି, ଅନୁତ୍ତମ ରସାତଳ ଲୋକକୁ ପହଞ୍ଚିଲେ।

Word by Word

• योजनानाम्: of yojanas
• योजनानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योजना (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), बहुवचन

• सहस्राणि: thousands
• सहस्राणि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; संख्यावाचक (numeral)

• षष्टिम्: sixty
• षष्टिम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: षष्टि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन; संख्यावाचक ‘sixty’ (qualifying सहस्राणि)

• तु: indeed/and
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle); emphasis/contrast

• रघुनन्दन: O Raghunandana
• रघुनन्दन: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रघु + नन्दन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः

• बिभिदुः: they split/dug through
• बिभिदुः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भिद् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• धरणीम्: the earth
• धरणीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धरणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन

• वीराः: heroes
• वीराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता), बहुवचन

• रसातलम्: Rasātala (netherworld)
• रसातलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रसा + तल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः ‘रसस्य तलम्’ (nether region)

• अनुत्तमम्: unsurpassed/excellent
• अनुत्तमम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनुत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; रसातलम् इति विशेषणम्

Context

O Venerable one! the entire earth is being excavated by the sons of Sagara. Many great beings living in the lower worlds are being killed.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma (Raghunandana)
• Sagara’s sons
• Earth (Dharaṇī)
• Rasātala

FAQs

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

Dharma is cautioned through contrast: immense power and perseverance, when driven by obsession, can violate balance and lead toward harm; righteous aims must be pursued with restraint.

What is the narrative situation?

Sagara’s sons dig relentlessly in their search, penetrating deep into the earth until they reach Rasātala.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Perseverance and strength are shown, but the episode also implicitly questions whether their zeal is guided by discernment (viveka).