Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 46, Shloka 22

दितितपः-शक्रपरिचर्या-गर्भभेदः

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

Devanagari script

प्राञ्जलिर्वज्रसहितो दितिं शक्रोऽभ्यभाषत।अशुचिर्देवि सुप्ताऽसि पादयो: कृतमूर्धजा।।1.46.22।।

Transliteration

prāñjalir vajra-sahito ditiṃ śakro 'bhyabhāṣata | aśucir devi suptā'si pādayoḥ kṛtamūrdhajā || 1.46.22 ||

Translation

ବଜ୍ର ସହିତ ପ୍ରାଞ୍ଜଳି ହୋଇ ଶକ୍ର ଇନ୍ଦ୍ର ଦିତିଙ୍କୁ କହିଲେ—“ଦେବି, ତୁମେ ଅଶୁଚି ଭାବେ ଶୋଇଥିଲ; କେଶ ପାଦଦିଗକୁ ପଡ଼ିଥିଲା।”

Word by Word

• प्राञ्जलिः: with folded palms
• प्राञ्जलिः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र + अञ्जलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; 'with folded hands' (adjectival)

• वज्र-सहितः: armed with the thunderbolt
• वज्र-सहितः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वज्र (प्रातिपदिक) + सहित (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष समास; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; qualifying 'शक्रः'

• दितिम्: Diti
• दितिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

• शक्रः: Indra
• शक्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन

• अभ्यभाषत: spoke to
• अभ्यभाषत: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि + भाष् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (अनद्यतनभूत/Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• अशुचिः: impure
• अशुचिः: Kriya (क्रियापद-भाव)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अशुचि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/स्त्री?; here predicate adjective to 'त्वम्' (devi): स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (aśuciḥ used common-gender)

• देवि: O देवी
• देवि: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• सुप्ता: asleep
• सुप्ता: Kriya (क्रियापद-भाव)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वप् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; predicate with 'असि'

• असि: you are
• असि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान/Present), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• पादयोः: at the feet
• पादयोः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), द्विवचन

• कृत-मूर्धजा: with hair placed (there)
• कृत-मूर्धजा: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत (कृदन्त) + मूर्धज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष/बहुव्रीहि-प्राय (कृताः मूर्धजाः यस्याः); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; qualifying 'देवि/त्वम्'

Context

"Do not kill", "Do not kill", said Diti. Subsequently Indra, in deference to the words of his mother, emerged out of the womb.

Characters & Entities

• Śakra (Indra)
• Diti
• Vajra (thunderbolt)

FAQs

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

Accountability and acknowledgment: after wrongdoing, one must explain oneself respectfully; dharma includes proper speech and recognition of error-causing lapses.

What is the narrative situation?

After stopping, Indra addresses Diti, pointing to her lapse in conduct as the opening he exploited.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Respectful address (vinaya) is displayed outwardly by Indra (folded palms), though the narrative invites scrutiny of sincerity.