Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 41, Shloka 12

अंशुमान्—अश्वान्वेषणम्, दिशागजसंवादः, कपिलदाहवृत्तान्तः, गङ्गोपदेशः

Anshuman’s Search for the Horse and the Counsel to Bring Ganga

Devanagari script

तेषां तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा जगाम लघुविक्रम:।भस्मराशीकृता यत्र पितरस्तस्य सागरा:।।।।

Transliteration

teṣāṁ tadvacanaṁ śrutvā jagāma laghuvikramaḥ | bhasmarāśīkṛtā yatra pitaras tasya sāgarāḥ ||

Translation

ସେମାନଙ୍କ ବଚନ ଶୁଣି, ଲଘୁବିକ୍ରମୀ ଅଂଶୁମାନ ସେଠାକୁ ଗଲେ, ଯେଉଁଠାରେ ସଗରଙ୍କ ପୁତ୍ର ଥିବା ତାଙ୍କ ପିତୃବ୍ୟମାନେ ଭସ୍ମରାଶି ହୋଇପଡ଼ିଥିଲେ।

Word by Word

• तेषाम्: of them
• तेषाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन (Plural), सर्वनाम (Pronoun)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (demonstrative)

• वचनम्: speech/words
• वचनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन (Singular)

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive), ‘having heard’

• जगाम: went
• जगाम: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• लघु-विक्रमः: the swift-striding one
• लघु-विक्रमः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लघु (प्रातिपदिक) + विक्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता), एकवचन (Singular); कर्मधारय-समास (descriptive)

• भस्म-राशि-कृताः: reduced to heaps of ash
• भस्म-राशि-कृताः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भस्म (प्रातिपदिक) + राशि (प्रातिपदिक) + कृ (धातु)
• Form: कृ-धातु से क्त-प्रत्यय (past passive participle), बहुवचन (Plural), पुंलिङ्ग प्रथमा (agreeing with ‘सागराः’); तत्पुरुष-समास (भस्मराशिः इव/भस्मराशिं कृताः)

• यत्र: where
• यत्र: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्बन्ध/देशवाचक-अव्यय (relative adverb of place)

• पितरः: fathers/forefathers (paternal uncles)
• पितरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन (Singular), सर्वनाम (Pronoun)

• सागराः: the Sāgaras (sons of Sagara)
• सागराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सागर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता), बहुवचन (Plural)

Context

Hearing their words with a quick pace where he reached the place his uncles, sons of Sagara were reduced to heaps of ashes.

Characters & Entities

• Anśumān
• sons of Sagara
• Sagara

FAQs

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

Actions bear consequences: the sight of ashes embodies karmic result, warning that adharma-driven violence and arrogance can end in destruction.

What is the narrative situation?

Anśumān reaches the aftermath of the catastrophe—Sagara’s sons have perished and lie as ash.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Courage and resolve—he continues the mission despite encountering a scene of devastation.