Valmiki Ramayana 1.38.2: Bala Kanda, Sarga 38, Shloka 2

सगरस्य पुत्रलाभः

Sagara’s Boons, Progeny, and the Rise of the Sixty Thousand

Devanagari script

अयोध्याधिपति श्शूर: पूर्वमासीन्नराधिप:।सगरो नाम धर्मात्मा प्रजाकामस्स चाप्रज:।।।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 1.38.2

Transliteration

ayodhyādhipatiḥ śūraḥ pūrvam āsīn narādhipaḥ | sagaro nāma dharmātmā prajākāmas sa cāprajaḥ ||

Translation

పూర్వకాలంలో అయోధ్యకు అధిపతిగా ఒక శూర నరాధిపుడు ఉండెను—ధర్మాత్ముడైన సగరుడు; సంతానకాంక్ష కలిగినవాడైనా అతడు అపుత్రుడే॥

Ask anything about this verse...Ask

Word by Word

• अयोध्याधिपतिः: ruler of Ayodhyā
• अयोध्याधिपतिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अयोध्या + अधिपति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (अयोध्यायाः अधिपतिः)

• शूरः: brave
• शूरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शूर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (of narādhipaḥ/sagaraḥ)

• पूर्वम्: formerly, in olden times
• पूर्वम्: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पूर्वम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (temporal adverb)

• आसीत्: was
• आसीत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• नराधिपः: king, lord of men
• नराधिपः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर + अधिप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (नराणाम् अधिपः)

• सगरः: Sagara
• सगरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सगर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; व्यक्तिवाचक

• नाम: by name
• नाम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाम (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; नामनिर्देशक (particle meaning ‘by name’)

• धर्मात्मा: righteous-souled
• धर्मात्मा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्म + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (धर्मः एव आत्मा यस्य)

• प्रजाकामः: desiring children
• प्रजाकामः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रजा + काम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (प्रजायाः कामः = desiring offspring)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• अप्रजः: childless
• अप्रजः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ + प्रज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; नञ्-समास/उपसर्गयुक्त विशेषण (childless)

Context

"In olden days there lived a brave and righteous king named Sagara who was ruler of Ayodhya. He was childless and desired to have children,

Characters & Entities

• Ayodhyā
• Sagara

FAQs

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

Dharma is linked to kingship and responsibility: a righteous ruler seeks continuity of the realm through heirs, not merely for personal desire but for stable governance and social order.

What is the narrative situation?

The account introduces King Sagara, establishing his virtues and the central problem of being childless.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Dharmic kingship: bravery governed by righteousness and a sense of duty toward the future.