Shloka 19

शिवधनुर्न्यासकथा तथा सीतोत्पत्तिविवाहशुल्क-निश्चयः

The Bow of Śiva: Its Deposit, Sītā’s Origin, and the Prowess-Brideprice Vow

Devanagari script

तेषां वीर्यवतां वीर्यमल्पं ज्ञात्वा महामुने ।प्रत्याख्याता नृपतयस्तन्निबोध तपोधन।।1.66.19।।

Transliteration

teṣāṁ vīryavatāṁ vīryam alpaṁ jñātvā mahāmune |

pratyākhyātā nṛpatayas tan nibodha tapodhana ||1.66.19||

Translation

Ao ver, ó grande sábio, que o vigor daqueles que se vangloriavam de força era na verdade pequeno, rejeitei esses reis; entende isto, ó tesouro de austeridade.

Word by Word

• teṣām: of them
• teṣām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, Bahuvacana

• vīryavatām: of the mighty
• vīryavatām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vīrya-vat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, Bahuvacana; possessive adjective with -vat

• vīryam: strength
• vīryam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vīrya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• alpam: small/insufficient
• alpam: Karma (कर्म; qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: alpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; qualifies vīryam

• jñātvā: having recognized
• jñātvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √jñā (ज्ञा धातु)
• Form: Ktvānta (absolutive), avyaya; 'having known'

• mahāmune: O great sage
• mahāmune: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā + muni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Sambodhana, Ekavacana; 'great sage'

• pratyākhyātāḥ: were rejected
• pratyākhyātāḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया; participial predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: prati-ā-√khyā (ख्या धातु)
• Form: Kta (past passive participle), Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; 'rejected/turned back'

• nṛpatayaḥ: kings
• nṛpatayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nṛpati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana

• tat: that
• tat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; refers to 'that (matter)'

• nibodha: know/understand
• nibodha: Kriyā (क्रिया; command)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-√budh (बुध् धातु)
• Form: Loṭ (Imperative/लोट्), Madhyama-puruṣa (2nd person/मध्यमपुरुष), Ekavacana; parasmaipada

• tapodhana: O wealth-of-austerity (ascetic)
• tapodhana: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tapas (प्रातिपदिक) + dhana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Sambodhana, Ekavacana; बहुव्रीहिः—तपो धनं यस्य सः 'whose wealth is austerity'

Context

The virtuous Janaka paid respects to Viswamitra and the high-souled Rama and Lakshmana in accordance with the sastras and spoke:

Characters & Entities

• Janaka
• kings (nṛpati)
• Viśvāmitra (tapodhana, mahāmune)

FAQs

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

Dharma requires discernment and fairness: one must uphold stated standards even when it means refusing powerful applicants; satya is maintained through consistent judgment.

What is the narrative situation?

After the kings fail the bow-test, Janaka concludes they are unqualified and formally rejects their proposals.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Janaka’s discriminative wisdom (viveka) and firmness in upholding a just criterion.