Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 61, Shloka 6

शुनःशेफविक्रयः

The Sale of Śunaḥśepa for the Sacrifice

Devanagari script

तस्य वै यजमानस्य पशुमिन्द्रो जहार ह।प्रणष्टे तु पशौ विप्रो राजानमिदमब्रवीत्।।।।

Transliteration

tasya vai yajamānasya paśum indro jahāra ha | praṇaṣṭe tu paśau vipro rājānam idam abravīt ||

Translation

เมื่อพระราชาทรงเป็นยชามานะประกอบยัญนั้น พระอินทร์ได้พาสัตว์บูชาไป ครั้นสัตว์นั้นสูญหาย พราหมณ์ปุโรหิตจึงกราบทูลพระราชาด้วยถ้อยคำนี้

Word by Word

• तस्य: of him; his
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (genitive), एकवचन

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक/प्रसिद्ध्यर्थक अव्यय (particle: 'indeed')

• यजमानस्य: of the sacrificer
• यजमानस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यजमान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• पशुम्: the (sacrificial) animal
• पशुम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पशु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• इन्द्रः: Indra
• इन्द्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• जहार: carried off; stole
• जहार: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• ह: indeed (particle)
• ह: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ह (अव्यय)
• Form: स्मरण/प्रसिद्ध्यर्थक निपात (particle, epic)

• प्रणष्टे: when (it) was lost
• प्रणष्टे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण: locative absolute)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र-नश् (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past participle/क्त), पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; सति-सप्तमी (locative absolute) with पशौ

• तु: but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषार्थक अव्यय

• पशौ: when the animal (was lost)
• पशौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण: locative absolute)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पशु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; सति-सप्तमी (locative absolute)

• विप्रः: the priest; brahmin
• विप्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• राजानम्: the king
• राजानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; object of speech (what was said)

• अब्रवीत्: said
• अब्रवीत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Context

While he was performing the sacrifice Indra stole away the sacrificial animal. The animal could not be traced. Hence the priest said to the king:

Characters & Entities

• Indra
• Ambarīṣa
• vipra (priest)
• paśu (sacrificial animal)
• yajña

FAQs

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

Dharma is shown as fragile when ritual order is disrupted; the community must respond through proper counsel and corrective action rather than abandoning the rite.

What is the narrative situation?

Indra removes the sacrificial victim; the priest prepares to advise the king on how to proceed so the sacrifice is not ruined.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Priestly responsibility (ṛtvik-dharma): the priest promptly guides the king to restore ritual continuity.