Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 57, Shloka 18

विश्वामित्रस्य दक्षिणतपः तथा त्रिशङ्कोः स्वशरीरेण स्वर्गगमनाभिलाषः

Visvamitra’s Southern Austerity and Trisanku’s Bodily Ascent Aspiration

Devanagari script

यष्टुकामो महायज्ञं तदनुज्ञातुमर्हथ।गुरुपुत्रानहं सर्वान्नमस्कृत्य प्रसादये।।1.57.18।।

Transliteration

yaṣṭukāmo mahāyajñaṃ tad anujñātum arhatha |

guruputrān ahaṃ sarvān namaskṛtya prasādaye || 1.57.18 ||

Translation

Desejo realizar um grande yajña; dignai-vos conceder vossa permissão. Tendo-me prostrado diante de todos vós, filhos de meu mestre, busco alcançar o vosso favor.

Word by Word

• यष्टुकामः: desirous of performing (a sacrifice)
• यष्टुकामः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यष्टुम् (यज् धातु) + काम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); उपपद-तत्पुरुषः: यष्टुम् कामः यस्य सः

• महायज्ञम्: a great sacrifice
• महायज्ञम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + यज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); कर्मधारयः: महान् यज्ञः

• तत्: therefore / for that
• तत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध) / Discourse marker
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: हेतौ/तदर्थे अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः (particle: 'for that/therefore')

• अनुज्ञातुम्: to grant permission
• अनुज्ञातुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन) / Purpose
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु + ज्ञा (धातु) + तुमुन् (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: तुमन्त (infinitive): 'to permit/consent'; क्रियार्थक-तुमुन्

• अर्हथ: you ought / please be willing
• अर्हथ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्ह् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), बहुवचन (Plural); परस्मैपदम्

• गुरुपुत्रान्: the sons of the guru
• गुरुपुत्रान्: Karma (कर्म) (object of प्रसादये/namaskṛtya)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु + पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (Plural); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: गुरोः पुत्रान्

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम (1st person pronoun), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• सर्वान्: all
• सर्वान्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (Plural); विशेषण of गुरुपुत्रान्

• नमस्कृत्य: having paid homage
• नमस्कृत्य: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नमस् + कृ (धातु) + क्त्वा/ल्यप् (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त्वान्त/ल्यबन्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund): 'having saluted'

• प्रसादये: I propitiate / I seek to please
• प्रसादये: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + सद् (धातु) (causative sense in usage) / प्रसादय् (धातु-आदेश)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन (Singular); परस्मैपदम्; causative meaning: 'to please/propitiate'

Context

'I wish to perform a great sacrifice. You are worthy enough to tender your consent. I pay homage to all the sons of my spiritual guide oblige.

Characters & Entities

• Viśvāmitra
• Vasiṣṭha’s sons

FAQs

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

Ritual action (yajña) is framed as legitimate only with proper authorization and respect for the teacher’s lineage—dharma requires humility and due procedure, not mere desire.

What is the narrative situation?

Viśvāmitra requests Vasiṣṭha’s sons to approve and support his intended great sacrifice.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Reverence toward the guru’s family and disciplined adherence to tradition (maryādā) in religious undertakings.