Valmiki Ramayana 1.21.9: Bala Kanda, Sarga 21, Shloka 9

बालकाण्डे एकविंशः सर्गः · Daśaratha’s Promise, Vasiṣṭha’s Counsel, and Viśvāmitra’s Weapon

Lore

Spoken by Vasistha to King Daśaratha

Devanagari script

कृतास्त्रमकृतास्त्रं वा नैनं शक्ष्यन्ति राक्षसाः ।

गुप्तं कुशिकपुत्रेण ज्वलनेनामृतं यथा ॥९॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 1.21.9

Transliteration

kṛtāstram akṛtāstraṃ vā nainaṃ śakṣyanti rākṣasāḥ |

guptaṃ kuśikaputreṇa jvalanenāmṛtaṃ yathā ||9||

Translation

ไม่ว่าพวกยักษ์จะชำนาญศัสตราวุธหรือไม่ ก็ไม่อาจครอบงำพระรามได้เลย เพราะพระรามได้รับการคุ้มครองโดยโอรสแห่งกุศิกะ (วิศวามิตร) ดุจอมฤตที่ถูกพิทักษ์ด้วยเปลวเพลิงอันโชติช่วง

Ask anything about this verse...Ask

Word by Word

• कृतास्त्रम्: trained in weapons
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत-अस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (trained/armed)
• Role: Karma (कर्म)
• Compound: Karmadharaya

• अकृतास्त्रम्: untrained in weapons
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-कृत-अस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; नञ्-पूर्वपद; विशेषणम् (untrained)
• Role: Karma (कर्म)
• Compound: Karmadharaya

• वा: or
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक (or)
• Role: Sambandha (विकल्प)

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध
• Role: Sambandha (निषेध)

• एनम्: him (this one)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• शक्ष्यन्ति: will be able
• Type: Verb
• Root: शक् (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (future), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपदम्
• Role: Kriyā (क्रिया)

• राक्षसाः: rākṣasas
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• गुप्तम्: protected
• Type: Verb
• Root: गुप् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP), पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसक, द्वितीया, एकवचन; 'protected' (here qualifying एनम्)
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• कुशिकपुत्रेण: by Kuśika's son (Viśvāmitra)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुशिक-पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण/सहायक), एकवचन
• Role: Karana (करण)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• ज्वलनेन: by fire/flame
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्वलन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन
• Role: Karana (करण)

• अमृतम्: nectar/ambrosia
• Type: Noun
• Root: अमृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• यथा: as/like
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमानवाचक (as/like)
• Role: Sambandha (उपमान-सम्बन्ध)

Sandhi Notes

• नैनम् = न + एनम्
• कुशिकपुत्रेण = कुशिक + पुत्रेण
• ज्वलनेनामृतम् = ज्वलनेन + अमृतम्

Context

Trained or not in the use of arms, as long as Rama is protected by Viswamitra, just as nectar is protected by the flaming fire-god rakshasas will not be able to compete with him.

The teaching

When righteous power (tapas guided by dharma) shelters the worthy, hostile forces cannot prevail—protection is itself a dharmic act.

Ethical theme

Rakṣaṇa-dharma (protective duty)

For your practice

Cultivates śraddhā in guru-rakṣā and in the inviolability of dharma-supported endeavor; useful as a contemplation before undertaking difficult tasks.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Vira (heroism), with Adbhuta (wonder)

Mood

Assured, protective, invincible

Themes

• Dharma
• Protection of the righteous
• Trust in sages
• Itihāsa
• Ethics

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Vasiṣṭha
• Daśaratha
• Rāma
• Viśvāmitra (Kuśikaputra)
• rākṣasas
• amṛta
• fire (jvalana)

FAQs

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

Dharma is safeguarded when the righteous act under the guidance of a true sage; moral authority and spiritual power provide protection beyond mere training.

What is the narrative situation?

To remove Daśaratha’s fear for Rāma’s safety, Vasiṣṭha assures him that Viśvāmitra’s protection makes Rāma unassailable to rākṣasas.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Faith and discernment: recognizing the spiritual stature of Viśvāmitra and trusting dharmic counsel over anxious attachment.