Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 63, Shloka 5

विश्वामित्रस्य तपोविघ्नः, मेनकाप्रसङ्गः, महर्षिपदप्रदानम्

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

Devanagari script

तां ददर्श महातेजा मेनकां कुशिकात्मज:।रूपेणाप्रतिमां तत्र विद्युतं जलदे यथा।।।।

Transliteration

tāṃ dadarśa mahātejā menakāṃ kuśikātmajaḥ | rūpeṇāpratimāṃ tatra vidyutaṃ jalade yathā ||

Translation

Doon namataan ng dakilang maningning na anak ni Kuśika si Menakā, na walang kapantay ang ganda—gaya ng kidlat na kumikislap sa gitna ng mga ulap.

Word by Word

• tām: her
• tām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• dadarśa: saw/beheld
• dadarśa: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dṛś (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• mahātejāḥ: the greatly radiant one
• mahātejāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā + tejas (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—"महत्तेजो यस्य सः" (one of great splendor)

• menakām: Menakā
• menakām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: menakā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ताम् इति सर्वनामस्य विशेष्य (apposition)

• kuśikātmajaḥ: son of Kuśika (Viśvāmitra)
• kuśikātmajaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kuśika + ātmaja (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—"kuśikasya ātmajaḥ"

• rūpeṇa: by (her) beauty
• rūpeṇa: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; instrumental—"in respect of/with beauty"

• apratimām: incomparable
• apratimām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-pratimā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम्—मेनकां (incomparable)

• tatra: there
• tatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable adverb of place)

• vidyutam: lightning
• vidyutam: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vidyut (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (क्वचित् नपुंसकवत् प्रयोगः), द्वितीया, एकवचन; उपमानरूपेण (object of comparison)

• jalade: in a cloud
• jalade: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jalada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; locative—"in the cloud"

• yathā: as/like
• yathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमा-प्रयोगे (comparative particle: like/as)

Context

Brahma, the lord of the gods, having said this returned to heaven. The brilliant Viswamitra continues his austerities.

Characters & Entities

• Viśvāmitra
• Kuśika
• Menakā

FAQs

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

Dharma-related vigilance: sensory perception can become the doorway to distraction; therefore, guarding the mind is integral to righteous living and spiritual discipline.

What is the narrative situation?

Viśvāmitra notices Menakā at Puṣkara and is struck by her extraordinary beauty.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The verse highlights a turning point where the virtue of restraint is about to be tested in Viśvāmitra.