Valmiki Ramayana 1.39.3: Bala Kanda, Sarga 39, Shloka 3

सगरयज्ञाश्वहरणम् · The Stolen Sacrificial Horse of Sagara

Devanagari script

विश्वामित्रस्तु काकुत्स्थमुवाच प्रहसन्निव ।

श्रूयतां विस्तरो राम सगरस्य महात्मनः ॥३॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 1.39.3

Transliteration

viśvāmitras tu kākutstham uvāca prahasann iva |

śrūyatāṁ vistaro rāma sagarasya mahātmanaḥ ||3||

Translation

ବିଶ୍ୱାମିତ୍ର ହସିବା ପରି କରି କାକୁତ୍ସ୍ଥ ରାମଙ୍କୁ କହିଲେ: “ହେ ରାମ, ମହାତ୍ମା ସଗର ରାଜାଙ୍କର ବିସ୍ତୃତ କଥା ଶୁଣ।”

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Word by Word

• विश्वामित्रः: Viśvāmitra
• विश्वामित्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viśvāmitra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तु: however
• तु: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/पक्षान्तरे (contrastive particle: but/on the other hand)

• काकुत्स्थम्: to Kakutstha (Rāma)
• काकुत्स्थम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kākutstha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन; सम्बोधनार्थे कर्म (addressed as object of speech)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect); प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• प्रहसन्: smiling
• प्रहसन्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pra-√has (धातु) → prahasan (कृदन्त, शतृ)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त (present participle, शतृ); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणभावे

• इव: as if
• इव: Upamā-dyotaka (उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमावाचक

• श्रूयताम्: let (it) be heard
• श्रूयताम्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śru (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (imperative); प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; आज्ञार्थे/अनुज्ञार्थे (let it be heard)

• विस्तरः: the detailed account
• विस्तरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vistara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन

• राम: O Rāma
• राम: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• सगरस्य: of Sagara
• सगरस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sagara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी, एकवचन

• महात्मनः: of the great-souled (one)
• महात्मनः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी, एकवचन; ‘महात्मन्’ = great-souled

Context

Viswamitra addressing the son of the Kakusthas (Rama) with a smile said, "O Rama! hear in detail the story of the magnanimous king Sagara".

Characters & Entities

• Viśvāmitra
• Rāma (Kākutstha)
• Sagara

FAQs

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

Dharma here is the respectful transmission of sacred history: a teacher presents an instructive narrative so the listener may learn righteous conduct through precedent.

What is the narrative situation?

Viśvāmitra begins introducing the extended story of King Sagara to Rāma, setting up the episode that follows.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Viśvāmitra’s pedagogical restraint and clarity—he frames the account as something to be attentively heard, guiding Rāma’s learning.