Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 2, Shloka 43

द्वितीयः सर्गः — श्लोकप्रादुर्भावः

The Manifestation of the Śloka

Devanagari script

तदुपगतसमाससन्धियोगंसममधुरोपनतार्थवाक्यबद्धम् ।रघुवरचरितं मुनिप्रणीतंदशशिरसश्च वधं निशामयध्वम् ।।1.2.43।।

Transliteration

tad upagata-samāsa-sandhi-yogaṁ sama-madhuropanata-artha-vākya-baddham |

raghuvara-caritaṁ muni-praṇītaṁ daśaśirasaś ca vadhaṁ niśāmayadhvam ||1.2.43||

Translation

ਸੁਘਟਿਤ ਸਮਾਸਾਂ ਤੇ ਸੰਧੀਆਂ ਨਾਲ ਯੁਕਤ, ਸਮ ਅਤੇ ਮਧੁਰ ਰੂਪ ਵਿੱਚ ਅਰਥ ਪ੍ਰਗਟ ਕਰਨ ਵਾਲੇ ਵਾਕਾਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਬੱਝਿਆ ਹੋਇਆ, ਮੁਨੀ-ਪ੍ਰਣੀਤ ਰਘੁਵਰ-ਚਰਿਤ—ਅਤੇ ਦਸ਼ਸ਼ਿਰ (ਰਾਵਣ) ਦੇ ਵਧ ਦੀ ਕਥਾ ਵੀ—ਤੁਸੀਂ ਸੁਣੋ।

Word by Word

• tat: that
• tat: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga, Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana; विशेषण—समस्तपदस्य (yogaṃ/baddham) deictic

• upagata-samāsa-sandhi-yogam: having proper compounds and sandhi-joins
• upagata-samāsa-sandhi-yogam: Karma (कर्म) (object-description with niśāmayadhvam)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: upagata (√gam + upa + kta) + samāsa + sandhi + yoga (प्रातिपदिक-समास)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana; विशेषण—‘raghuvaracaritam’ (understood as kāvya/grantha); अर्थः—‘endowed with compounds and sandhi-connections’

• sama-madhura-upanata-artha-vākya-baddham: composed in clear, sweet, meaningful sentences
• sama-madhura-upanata-artha-vākya-baddham: Karma (कर्म) (object-description)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sama + madhura + upanata + artha + vākya + baddha (प्रातिपदिक-समास)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga, Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana; विशेषण—‘raghuvaracaritam’; अर्थः—‘bound/constructed with sentences whose meaning is clear, sweet, and well-presented’

• raghuvara-caritam: the deeds of the best of the Raghus (Rāma)
• raghuvara-caritam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: raghu-vara + carita (प्रातिपदिक-समास)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga, Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana; कर्म—‘niśāmayadhvam’

• muni-praṇītam: composed by the sage
• muni-praṇītam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: muni + praṇīta (√nī + pra + kta) (प्रातिपदिक-समास)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga, Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana; विशेषण—‘raghuvaracaritam’

• daśaśirasaḥ: of the ten-headed one (Rāvaṇa)
• daśaśirasaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daśa-śiras (प्रातिपदिक-समास)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī (6th), Ekavacana; बहुव्रीहिः—‘one who has ten heads’ (Rāvaṇa); सम्बन्ध—‘of Rāvaṇa’

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; samuccaya (conjunction)

• vadham: slaying
• vadham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vadha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana; कर्म—‘niśāmayadhvam’

• niśāmayadhvam: listen (to)/hear
• niśāmayadhvam: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śam (शम्) with ni- (नि) (धातु)
• Form: Loṭ-lakāra (Imperative/आज्ञार्थ), Madhyama-puruṣa (2nd), Bahuvacana; parasmaipada; अर्थः—‘listen/observe’

Context

This story of Rama and the killing of Ravana composed by the sage consists of compound words, melodious sandhis and lines composed in lucid, melodious and meaningful phrases. Listen to it.ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē bālakāṇḍē dvitīyassarga:৷৷Thus ends the second sarga of Balakanda of the holy Ramayana in synopsis of the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma (Raghuvara)
• Rāvaṇa (Daśaśiras)
• Raghu lineage
• sandhi
• Vālmīki

FAQs

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

The verse frames the epic as instruction through attentive listening: hearing the life of the righteous hero and the fall of unrighteous power supports discernment between dharma and adharma.

What is the narrative situation?

At the close of the sarga, the text invites the audience to hear the complete Rāma-story, including Rāvaṇa’s death, while praising the poem’s linguistic craftsmanship.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The virtue emphasized is the listener’s discipline (śravaṇa with attention) and the poet’s integrity—craft serving truth and moral clarity.