Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 46, Shloka 18

दितितपः-शक्रपरिचर्या-गर्भभेदः

Diti’s Penance, Indra’s Service, and the Severing of the Embryo

Devanagari script

तस्याश्शरीरविवरं विवेश च पुरन्दर:।गर्भं च सप्तधा राम बिभेद परमात्मवान्।।1.46.18।।

Transliteration

tasyāḥ śarīra-vivaraṃ viveśa ca purandaraḥ | garbhaṃ ca saptadhā rāma bibheda paramātmavān || 1.46.18 ||

Translation

ହେ ରାମ, ପୁରନ୍ଦର (ଇନ୍ଦ୍ର) ତାଙ୍କ ଶରୀରର ଏକ ରନ୍ଧ୍ରରେ ପ୍ରବେଶ କରି, ଦୃଢ଼ସଙ୍କଳ୍ପୀ ମହାତ୍ମା ହୋଇ ଗର୍ଭକୁ ସାତ ଭାଗରେ ଭେଦିଦେଲେ।

Word by Word

• तस्याः: of her
• तस्याः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• शरीर-विवरम्: opening of the body
• शरीर-विवरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरीर (प्रातिपदिक) + विवर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष समास; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

• विवेश: entered
• विवेश: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विश् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय

• पुरन्दरः: Purandara (Indra)
• पुरन्दरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरंदर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन

• गर्भम्: embryo
• गर्भम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गर्भ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय

• सप्तधा: into seven parts
• सप्तधा: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सप्तन् (संख्या) + धा (अव्यय-प्रत्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, प्रकारवाचक (distributive adverb)

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

• बिभेद: split
• बिभेद: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भिद् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• परमात्मवान्: very resolute/courageous
• परमात्मवान्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय समास; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; qualifying 'पुरन्दरः'

Context

O Rama! with great courage Indra entered her womb and severed her embryo into seven pieces.

Characters & Entities

• Purandara (Indra)
• Diti

FAQs

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

The verse shows how fear can drive extreme action; Ramayana’s broader ethical lens warns that adharma escalates conflict and produces suffering, even when done for self-preservation.

What is the narrative situation?

Indra intrudes into Diti’s womb and attacks the unborn child, dividing it into seven.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Indra’s determination (as a power/ability) is shown, but ethically it is framed within a troubling act, prompting reflection on means versus ends.