Valmiki Ramayana 1.39.3: Bala Kanda, Sarga 39, Shloka 3

सगरयज्ञाश्वहरणम् · The Stolen Sacrificial Horse of Sagara

Spoken by Viśvāmitra to RamaForest-journey with Viśvāmitra (context of Bālakāṇḍa)

Devanagari script

विश्वामित्रस्तु काकुत्स्थमुवाच प्रहसन्निव ।

श्रूयतां विस्तरो राम सगरस्य महात्मनः ॥३॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 1.39.3

Transliteration

viśvāmitras tu kākutstham uvāca prahasann iva |

śrūyatāṁ vistaro rāma sagarasya mahātmanaḥ ||3||

Translation

அப்போது விஸ்வாமித்ரர் புன்னகை பூத்தவராய் காகுத்ஸ்த ராமனை நோக்கி—“ஓ ராமா, மகாத்மா சகரனின் விரிவான வரலாற்றைக் கேள்” என்றார்.

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Word by Word

• विश्वामित्रः: Viśvāmitra
• Type: Noun
• Root: viśvāmitra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• तु: however
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/पक्षान्तरे (contrastive particle: but/on the other hand)
• Role: Nipāta (निपात)

• काकुत्स्थम्: to Kakutstha (Rāma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kākutstha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन; सम्बोधनार्थे कर्म (addressed as object of speech)
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• उवाच: said
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect); प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद
• Role: Kriyā (क्रिया)

• प्रहसन्: smiling
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pra-√has (धातु) → prahasan (कृदन्त, शतृ)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त (present participle, शतृ); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणभावे
• Role: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)

• इव: as if
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमावाचक
• Role: Upamā-dyotaka (उपमा)

• श्रूयताम्: let (it) be heard
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śru (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (imperative); प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; आज्ञार्थे/अनुज्ञार्थे (let it be heard)
• Role: Kriyā (क्रिया)

• विस्तरः: the detailed account
• Type: Noun
• Root: vistara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• राम: O Rāma
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन, एकवचन
• Role: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)

• सगरस्य: of Sagara
• Type: Noun
• Root: sagara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी, एकवचन
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)

• महात्मनः: of the great-souled (one)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी, एकवचन; ‘महात्मन्’ = great-souled
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)

Sandhi Notes

• विश्वामित्रः + तु → विश्वामित्रस्तु (विसर्ग + त् → स्त्)
• काकुत्स्थम् + उवाच → काकुत्स्थमुवाच (म् + उ → मु)

Context

Viswamitra addressing the son of the Kakusthas (Rama) with a smile said, "O Rama! hear in detail the story of the magnanimous king Sagara".

The teaching

A complete account of past exemplars is to be heard from the wise; listening itself is a dharmic act that shapes discernment.

Ethical theme

Vidyā-dharma / guru-śiṣya

How it resolves

Instruction/itihāsa transmission

For your practice

Supports śravaṇa-sādhana: disciplined listening to sacred narrative as a purifier of intention.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Adbhuta (wonder), with Shanta (peace)

Mood

Anticipatory, storytelling, reverent

Themes

• Itihasa
• Dharma
• Satya
• Teaching

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Viśvāmitra
• Rāma (Kākutstha)
• Sagara

FAQs

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

Dharma here is the respectful transmission of sacred history: a teacher presents an instructive narrative so the listener may learn righteous conduct through precedent.

What is the narrative situation?

Viśvāmitra begins introducing the extended story of King Sagara to Rāma, setting up the episode that follows.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Viśvāmitra’s pedagogical restraint and clarity—he frames the account as something to be attentively heard, guiding Rāma’s learning.