Valmiki Ramayana 1.58.8 — Bala Kanda, Sarga 58, Shloka 8

त्रिशङ्कुशापः

Trishanku’s Curse and Appeal to Viśvāmitra

Devanagari script

ऋषिपुत्रास्तु तच्छ्रुत्वा वाक्यं घोराभिसंहितम्।।।।शेपु: परमसङ्कृद्धाश्चण्डालत्वं गमिष्यसि।

Transliteration

ṛṣiputrās tu tac chrutvā vākyaṃ ghorābhisaṃhitam |

śepuḥ parama-saṅkṛddhāś caṇḍālatvaṃ gamiṣyasi ||

Translation

ครั้นบุตรแห่งฤๅษีทั้งหลายได้ฟังถ้อยคำนั้น อันอัดแน่นด้วยเจตนาอันน่ากลัว ก็พิโรธยิ่งนัก แล้วสาปว่า “เจ้าจักตกไปเป็นจัณฑาล!”

Word by Word

• ऋषिपुत्राः: sons of sages
• ऋषिपुत्राः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषि + पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (ṛṣi-putrāḥ = sons of sages)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/विरोधसूचक-निपात (particle: but/indeed)

• तत्: that (it)
• तत्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial to main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (absolutive/gerund), ‘having heard’

• वाक्यम्: speech/words
• वाक्यम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• घोराभिसंहितम्: with fierce intent
• घोराभिसंहितम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier of vākyaṃ)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घोर + अभिसंहित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; उपपद/तत्पुरुष-समासः (ghora-abhisaṃhita = intended with fierceness)

• शेपुः: they cursed
• शेपुः: Kriyā (क्रिया/Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शप् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्शभूत), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• परमसङ्कृद्धाः: highly enraged
• परमसङ्कृद्धाः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier of ṛṣiputrāḥ)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम + संकृद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः (parama-saṅkṛddha = extremely enraged)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction: and)

• चण्डालत्वम्: chandalahood
• चण्डालत्वम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चण्डालत्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; भाववाचक-तद्धित (state of being a caṇḍāla)

• गमिष्यसि: you will go/attain
• गमिष्यसि: Kriyā (क्रिया/Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future/भविष्यत्), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Context

Having seen his fierce intent, the saint's sons were infuriated. They cursed him saying, "Be a Chandala"

Characters & Entities

• caṇḍāla

FAQs

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

The verse illustrates how uncontrolled anger can weaponize speech into harm; dharma requires mastery over krodha, especially for ascetics whose words carry potency.

What is the narrative situation?

Interpreting the king’s resolve as defiant and dangerous, the sages’ sons respond with a curse.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Negatively emphasized: lack of kṣamā (forbearance). The episode highlights the ethical danger of rash punitive speech.