Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 55, Shloka 26

कामधेनुसैन्यप्रादुर्भावः

Kamadhenu’s Forces, Visvamitra’s Austerities, and Vasishta’s Wrath

Devanagari script

एवमुक्त्वा महातेजा वसिष्ठो जपतां वर:।विश्वामित्रं तदा वाक्यं सरोषमिदमब्रवीत्।।1.55.26।।

Transliteration

evam uktvā mahātejā vasiṣṭho japatāṃ varaḥ |

viśvāmitraṃ tadā vākyaṃ saroṣam idam abravīt || 1.55.26 ||

Translation

Tendo assim falado, o radiante Vasiṣṭha, o mais excelso entre os que recitam preces sagradas, dirigiu-se então a Viśvāmitra e, irado, disse estas palavras.

Word by Word

• evam: thus
• evam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, प्रकारवाचक (manner adverb)

• uktvā: having spoken
• uktvā: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (वच् धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive), ‘having said’

• mahātejāḥ: highly lustrous
• mahātejāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā-tejas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समास: कर्मधारय—‘महत्तेजाः’ (very radiant) qualifying vasiṣṭhaḥ

• vasiṣṭhaḥ: Vasiṣṭha
• vasiṣṭhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vasiṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन

• japatām: of those who chant
• japatām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Verb
• Root: jap (जप् धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त, शतृ (present participle) used substantively, पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; ‘of those who recite/pray’

• varaḥ: the best
• varaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘best’ (predicate/apposition to vasiṣṭhaḥ)

• viśvāmitram: Viśvāmitra
• viśvāmitram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viśvāmitra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

• tadā: then
• tadā: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, कालवाचक (temporal adverb)

• vākyam: a statement
• vākyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vākya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

• sa-roṣam: angrily
• sa-roṣam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa-roṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष—‘रोषेण सह’ (with anger), qualifying vākyam

• idam: this
• idam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: idam (इदम् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम-विशेषण, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; qualifying vākyam

• abravīt: said
• abravīt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: brū (ब्रू धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

Context

The infuriated Vasishta who was highly brilliant, foremost among those who meditate said to Viswamitra:

Characters & Entities

• Vasiṣṭha
• Viśvāmitra

FAQs

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

Even righteous authority may employ stern speech to restrain wrongdoing; dharma can include corrective confrontation when harm is being done.

What is the narrative situation?

After attempting to reassure the fleeing sages, Vasiṣṭha turns directly to confront Viśvāmitra.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Moral firmness: the resolve to oppose injustice, supported by spiritual discipline (japa/tapas).