Valmiki Ramayana 1.63.26 — Bala Kanda, Sarga 63, Shloka 26

विश्वामित्रस्य तपोविघ्नः, मेनकाप्रसङ्गः, महर्षिपदप्रदानम्

Visvamitra’s Austerity Obstructed; Menaka Episode; Conferment of Maharshi Status

Devanagari script

रम्भामप्सरसं शक्र स्सह सर्वैर्मरुद्गणै:।उवाचात्महितं वाक्यमहितं कौशिकस्य च।।।।

Transliteration

rambhām apsarasaṃ śakraḥ saha sarvair marudgaṇaiḥ | uvāca ātmahitaṃ vākyam ahitaṃ kauśikasya ca ||

Translation

ศักระ (พระอินทร์) พร้อมด้วยหมู่มรุตทั้งปวง ได้กล่าวถ้อยคำแก่เทพอัปสร รัมภา เป็นวาจาเพื่อประโยชน์ตน และเพื่อให้เกิดโทษแก่เกาศิกะ (วิศวามิตร)

Word by Word

• रम्भाम्: Rambhā
• रम्भाम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रम्भा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Acc/2nd), एकवचन

• अप्सरसम्: the apsaras (nymph)
• अप्सरसम्: कर्मणि विशेषण (Apposition to object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अप्सरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Acc/2nd), एकवचन; रम्भाम् इत्यस्य विशेषण/अपपद

• शक्रः: Śakra (Indra)
• शक्रः: कर्ता (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nom/1st), एकवचन

• सह: together with
• सह: सहकारक (Associative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह (अव्यय)
• Form: सह-योगे अव्यय (preposition-like indeclinable)

• सर्वैः: all
• सर्वैः: सहकारके विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instr/3rd), बहुवचन; विशेषण of 'मरुद्गणैः'

• मरुद्गणैः: with the hosts of Maruts
• मरुद्गणैः: सहकारक (Associates with 'सह')
• Type: Noun
• Root: मरुत् + गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instr/3rd), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष: 'मरुतां गणाः'

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: क्रिया (Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• आत्महितम्: beneficial to himself
• आत्महितम्: कर्मणि विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आत्मन् + हित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Acc/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण of 'वाक्यम्'; तत्पुरुष: 'आत्मनः हितम्'

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

• अहितम्: harmful
• अहितम्: कर्मणि विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अहित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण of 'वाक्यम्' (understood)

• कौशिकस्य: of Kauśika (Viśvāmitra)
• कौशिकस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive: of/for)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कौशिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Gen/6th), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: अव्यय (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-निपात (conjunction)

Context

As the period passed, Viswamitra the mighty ascetic was filled with grief, anxiety andremorse.

Characters & Entities

• Rambhā
• Śakra (Indra)
• Kauśika (Viśvāmitra)

FAQs

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

Dharma critique of self-interest: speech driven by personal gain (ātma-hita) that intends another’s harm (ahita) is ethically compromised, even if spoken by a powerful deity.

What is the narrative situation?

Indra, with the Maruts, plans to disrupt Viśvāmitra’s tapas by deploying Rambhā as a temptation.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The verse foregrounds a lack of virtue—political expediency over righteousness—setting up the ethical tension between ascetic striving and divine insecurity.