Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 51, Shloka 21

शतानन्दोपदेशः

Śatānanda’s Welcome to Rāma and the Prelude to Viśvāmitra’s History

Devanagari script

कदाचित्तु महातेजा योजयित्वा वरूथिनीम्।अक्षौहीणीपरिवृत: परिचक्राम मेदिनीम्।।।।

Transliteration

kadācit tu mahātejā yojayitvā varūthinīm |

akṣauhiṇī-parivṛtaḥ paricakrāma medinīm ||

Translation

Certa vez, aquele rei de grande poder e fulgor reuniu o seu exército; cercado por uma hoste de akṣauhiṇī, percorreu a terra em circuito régio.

Word by Word

• कदाचित्: once / at some time
• कदाचित्: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kadācit (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक-क्रियाविशेषण (temporal adverb)

• तु: but / indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle), विरोध/अन्वय (but/indeed)

• महातेजाः: the great-splendored one
• महातेजाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā-tejas (प्रातिपदिक; महत् + तेजस्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); here used substantively for Viśvāmitra

• योजयित्वा: having assembled / having arranged
• योजयित्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: युज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), परस्मैपद-भाव; पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having done)

• वरूथिनीम्: the army
• वरूथिनीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: varūthinī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• अक्षौहीणी-परिवृतः: surrounded by an akṣauhiṇī (great host)
• अक्षौहीणी-परिवृतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: akṣauhīṇī + parivṛta (प्रातिपदिक; परि+वृत् क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle) used adjectivally; विशेषण of महातेजाः

• परिचक्राम: went around / traversed
• परिचक्राम: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: क्रम् (धातु) with परि- (upasarga)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular); परस्मैपद

• मेदिनीम्: the earth
• मेदिनीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: medinī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

Context

Once that highly lustrous Viswamitra having assembled his army of the magnitude of akshauhini went round the earth.

Characters & Entities

• Viśvāmitra
• Akṣauhiṇī
• Medinī (earth)

FAQs

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

Power is shown as organized and accountable (yojayitvā): dharma requires that force be disciplined, structured, and used within the duties of governance.

What is the narrative situation?

Viśvāmitra describes a particular moment from his reign—setting up the journey that will bring him to Vasiṣṭha’s hermitage.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Command and order—capacity to mobilize resources responsibly as a ruler.