Valmiki Ramayana 1.51.28 — Bala Kanda, Sarga 51, Shloka 28

शतानन्दोपदेशः

Śatānanda’s Welcome to Rāma and the Prelude to Viśvāmitra’s History

Devanagari script

वसिष्ठस्याश्रमपदं ब्रह्मलोकमिवापरम्।ददर्श जयतां श्रेष्ठो विश्वामित्रो महाबल:।।।।

Transliteration

vasiṣṭhasyāśramapadaṁ brahmalokam ivāparam |

dadarśa jayatāṁ śreṣṭho viśvāmitro mahābalaḥ ||

Translation

แล้ววิศวามิตรผู้ทรงมหาพละ—ผู้เลิศในหมู่นักพิชิต—ได้ทอดพระเนตรอาศรมของวสิษฐะ ประหนึ่งพรหมโลกอีกแห่งหนึ่ง

Word by Word

• वसिष्ठस्य: of Vasiṣṭha
• वसिष्ठस्य: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वसिष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• आश्रम-पदम्: hermitage-abode
• आश्रम-पदम्: Karma (कर्म; Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आश्रम (प्रातिपदिक) + पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (आश्रमस्य पदम् = आश्रमस्थानम्)

• ब्रह्म-लोकम्: Brahmaloka
• ब्रह्म-लोकम्: Upamāna (उपमान; standard of comparison)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (ब्रह्मणः लोकः)

• इव: like
• इव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध; comparative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमावाचक-अव्यय (particle of comparison)

• अपरम्: another, second
• अपरम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अपर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (आश्रमपदम्)

• ददर्श: saw
• ददर्श: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• जयताम्: of the victorious (conquerors)
• जयताम्: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: √जि (धातु) → जयत् (कृदन्त; शतृ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त ‘जयत्’ = ‘विजयशील/जयमान’

• श्रेष्ठः: foremost
• श्रेष्ठः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रेष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (विश्वामित्रः)

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

• महाबलः: very powerful
• महाबलः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (महच्च तत् बलं यस्य)

Context

Highly powerful Viswamitra, foremost among the conquerors, (thus) saw the hermitage of Vasishta which looked like another Brahmaloka.ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē bālakāṇḍē ēkapañcāśassarga:.Thus ends the fiftyfirst sarga of Balakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.

Characters & Entities

• Vasiṣṭha
• Viśvāmitra
• āśrama
• Brahmaloka

FAQs

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

The verse implies that true greatness is not only conquest by force but recognition of spiritual merit: a dhārmic life creates a ‘Brahmaloka-like’ realm on earth through tapas, truth, and right conduct.

What is the narrative situation?

After traveling, Viśvāmitra arrives and visually apprehends the grandeur and sanctity of Vasiṣṭha’s hermitage, setting the stage for the coming interaction/conflict around Vasiṣṭha’s powers.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Reverent discernment: even a powerful warrior-sage like Viśvāmitra acknowledges the supremacy of spiritual radiance and sacred order.