Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 27, Shloka 1

अस्त्रप्रदानम्

Bestowal of Divine Astras to Rama

Devanagari script

अथ तां रजनीमुष्य विश्वामित्रो महायशाः।प्रहस्य राघवं वाक्यमुवाच मधुराक्षरम्।।।।

Transliteration

atha tāṃ rajanīm uṣya viśvāmitro mahāyaśāḥ |

prahasya rāghavaṃ vākyam uvāca madhurākṣaram ||1.27.1||

Translation

ครั้นล่วงราตรีนั้นแล้ว วิศวามิตรผู้มีเกียรติยศยิ่ง ก็แย้มสรวลแล้วกล่าวถ้อยคำอ่อนหวานไพเราะแก่ราฆวะ (พระราม)

Word by Word

• अथ: then, thereafter
• अथ: सम्बन्ध/काल-सूचक (discourse/temporal connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रमसूचक-अव्ययम् (sequential particle: 'then/thereupon')

• ताम्: that (her/that one)
• ताम्: कर्म (object) — रजनीम् इति विशेष्यस्य निर्देशः
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्तिः; एकवचनम् (feminine; accusative; singular)

• रजनीम्: night
• रजनीम्: कर्म (object) — उष्य इत्यस्य (having stayed the night)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रजनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्तिः; एकवचनम् (feminine; accusative; singular)

• उष्य: having stayed (having spent the night)
• उष्य: क्रियाविशेषण (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया) — उवाच इत्यस्य
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वस् (धातु) → उष्य (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त-अव्ययम् (absolutive/gerund); अर्थः—पूर्वकाले कृत्य (having done earlier)

• विश्वामित्रः: Viśvāmitra
• विश्वामित्रः: कर्ता (agent) — उवाच
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्वामित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्तिः; एकवचनम् (masculine; nominative; singular)

• महायशाः: illustrious, of great fame
• महायशाः: कर्ता-विशेषण (qualifier of agent)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महायशस् (प्रातिपदिक: महत् + यशस्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्तिः; एकवचनम् (masculine; nominative; singular); विशेषणम्—विश्वामित्रस्य (epithet)

• प्रहस्य: having smiled, smiling
• प्रहस्य: क्रियाविशेषण (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया) — उवाच इत्यस्य
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्र + हस् (धातु) → प्रहस्य (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त-अव्ययम् (absolutive/gerund); अर्थः—हसित्वा (having smiled/laughed)

• राघवम्: Rāghava (Rāma), to/unto Rāghava
• राघवम्: कर्म (object) — उवाच (addressed to Rāghava)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राघव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्तिः; एकवचनम् (masculine; accusative; singular)

• वाक्यम्: words, a statement
• वाक्यम्: कर्म (object) — उवाच
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्तिः; एकवचनम् (neuter; accusative; singular)

• उवाच: spoke, said
• उवाच: क्रिया (main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु) → उवाच (लिट्-लकारः, परस्मैपदम्)
• Form: लिट्-लकारः (परोक्शभूत/Perfect); प्रथम-पुरुषः; एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम् (3rd person singular, perfect, parasmaipada)

• मधुराक्षरम्: sweet-syllabled, with sweet accents
• मधुराक्षरम्: कर्म-विशेषण (qualifier of object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मधुराक्षर (प्रातिपदिक: मधुर + अक्षर)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्तिः; एकवचनम् (neuter; accusative; singular); विशेषणम्—वाक्यस्य (qualifying 'vākyam')

Context

The night over, illustrious Viswamitra called Rama with a sweet smile.

Characters & Entities

• Viśvāmitra
• Rāma (Rāghava)

FAQs

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

Dharma is shown through rightful instruction and guidance: the guru approaches the student with clarity and goodwill, preparing him for righteous duty.

What is the narrative situation?

After the night’s halt, Viśvāmitra begins a new phase of training by addressing Rāma—leading into the bestowal of divine weapons.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Guru’s compassion and discernment: Viśvāmitra’s gentle speech frames power as disciplined knowledge, not mere force.