Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 118, Shloka 46

अनसूयोपदेशः तथा सीताया स्वयंवरकथा

Anasuya’s Counsel and Sita’s Swayamvara Narrative

Devanagari script

सुतौ दशरथस्येमौ धनुर्दर्शकाङ्क्षिणौ।धनुर्दर्शय रामाय राजपुत्राय दैविकम्।।2.118.46।।

Transliteration

sutau daśarathasyemau dhanur-darśakāṅkṣiṇau | dhanur darśaya rāmāya rājaputrāya daivikam || 2.118.46 ||

Translation

สองพระโอรสแห่งทศรถนี้ ปรารถนาจะได้เห็นคันศร ขอท่านพราหมณ์จงแสดงคันศรทิพย์นั้นแก่พระราม ราชกุมารเถิด

Word by Word

• सुतौ: two sons
• सुतौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन

• दशरथस्य: of Daśaratha
• दशरथस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दशरथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• इमौ: these two
• इमौ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; विशेषण सुतौ

• धनुःदर्शकाङ्क्षिणौ: desirous of seeing the bow
• धनुःदर्शकाङ्क्षिणौ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धनुः + दर्शक + आकाङ्क्षिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; विशेषण सुतौ; समास: धनुः-दर्शक (bow-seeing) + आकाङ्क्षिन् (desirous)

• धनुः: the bow
• धनुः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• दर्शय: show
• दर्शय: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु) (णिच् causative: दर्शय)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; causative

• रामाय: to Rama
• रामाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (Dative/चतुर्थी), एकवचन

• राजपुत्राय: to the prince
• राजपुत्राय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजपुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन; समास: राजन् + पुत्र

• दैविकम्: divine
• दैविकम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दैविक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण धनुः

Context

'Both these sons of king Dasaratha wish to see the bow. Show the divine bow to prince Rama'.

Characters & Entities

• Viśvāmitra
• Daśaratha
• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa
• the divine bow (Śiva’s bow/Pināka implied)

FAQs

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

Dharma of guidance: a sage directs worthy action by recognizing merit and giving a rightful opportunity without coercion.

What is the narrative situation?

Viśvāmitra requests that the famed divine bow be shown to Rāma (and Lakṣmaṇa).

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Viśvāmitra’s discernment and Rāma’s respectful readiness to engage with a sacred challenge.