Valmiki Ramayana 1.21.15 — Bala Kanda, Sarga 21, Shloka 15

बालकाण्डे एकविंशः सर्गः

Daśaratha’s Promise, Vasiṣṭha’s Counsel, and Viśvāmitra’s Weapon-Lore

Devanagari script

जया च सुप्रभा चैव दक्षकन्ये सुमध्यमे।ते सुवातेऽस्त्रशस्त्राणि शतं परमभास्वरम्।।।।

Transliteration

jayā ca suprabhā caiva dakṣa-kanye sumadhyame | te suvāte ’stra-śastrāṇi śataṃ parama-bhāsvaram ||

Translation

جَیا اور سُپربھا—دَکش کی دو سُکمر کمر والی بیٹیاں—نے اَستر و شَستر کے سو نہایت درخشاں ہتھیار جنم دیے۔

Word by Word

• jayā: Jaya
• jayā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jayā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• suprabhā: Suprabhā
• suprabhā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: suprabhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• eva: indeed/just
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (particle of emphasis)

• dakṣa-kanye: O two daughters of Dakṣa
• dakṣa-kanye: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dakṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + kanyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive tatpuruṣa: 'Dakṣa's daughters'); स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), सम्बोधन/प्रथमा-द्विवचनरूपे (Vocative/Nominative Dual form), द्विवचन (Dual)

• su-madhyame: O two slender-waisted (ones)
• su-madhyame: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + madhyamā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (descriptive: 'good/slender-waisted'); स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), सम्बोधन/प्रथमा-द्विवचनरूपे (Vocative/Nominative Dual form), द्विवचन (Dual)

• te: they (the two)
• te: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun); प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), द्विवचन (Dual)

• suvāte: gave birth (the two bore)
• suvāte: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vā (वा, धातु)
• Form: लिट्/परिपूर्णभूत (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), द्विवचन (Dual), परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada)

• astra-śastrāṇi: missiles and weapons
• astra-śastrāṇi: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: astra (प्रातिपदिक) + śastra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (copulative: 'missiles and weapons'); नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• śatam: a hundred
• śatam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• parama-bhāsvaram: supremely radiant
• parama-bhāsvaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक) + bhāsvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (descriptive: 'supremely radiant'); नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषणम् (adjective) to śatam/astrāṇi

Context

Jaya and Suprabha of slender waists are the two daughters of Daksha. They gave birth to one hundred effulgent sons known as astras and shastras.

Characters & Entities

• Jaya
• Suprabhā
• Dakṣa
• Astra
• Śastra

FAQs

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

The verse frames weapons as part of a sacred order and lineage; dharma implies that such brilliance and power must be governed by restraint and rightful purpose.

What is the narrative situation?

A mythic genealogy is introduced to explain the emergence and classification of weapon-powers associated with Viśvāmitra’s tradition.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Not a personal virtue, but the idea of ordered transmission—power arising within a structured cosmic and dharmic framework.