Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 45, Shloka 18

विशालानगरीप्रवेशः

Entry toward Viśālā and the Indra–Kṣīrodamathana Legend

Devanagari script

ततो निश्चित्य मथनं योक्त्रं कृत्वा च वासुकिम्।मन्थानं मन्दरं कृत्वा ममन्थुरमितौजस:।।।।

Transliteration

tato niścitya mathanaṃ yoktraṃ kṛtvā ca vāsukim | manthānaṃ mandaraṃ kṛtvā mamanthur amitaujasaḥ ||

Translation

پھر انہوں نے منّتھن کا پختہ ارادہ کر کے واسُکی کو رسی بنایا، اور مندرَ پہاڑ کو منّتھن کی لکڑی ٹھہرا کر، بے پایاں قوت والے دیوتاؤں نے منّتھن شروع کیا۔

Word by Word

• tataḥ: thereupon
• tataḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable adverb); अर्थे: अनन्तरम् (thereupon/then)

• niścitya: having decided
• niścitya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: niś-ci (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); धातु: नि√चि (to decide/ascertain); अव्ययभावः; पूर्वक्रिया (having decided)

• mathanam: churning (act)
• mathanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mathana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया विभक्ति (accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular)

• yoktram: rope (yoking-cord)
• yoktram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yoktra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• kṛtvā: having made
• kṛtvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive); धातु: √कृ (to make/do); पूर्वक्रिया (having made)

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

• vāsukim: Vāsuki
• vāsukim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāsuki (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया, एकवचन; नाम (proper noun)

• manthānam: churning-rod
• manthānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manthāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• mandaram: Mandara (mountain)
• mandaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mandara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; नाम (proper noun)

• kṛtvā: having made
• kṛtvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive); धातु: √कृ; पूर्वक्रिया (having made)

• mamanthuḥ: they churned
• mamanthuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: manth (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (plural); धातु: √मन्थ् (to churn)

• amitaujasaḥ: men of immeasurable strength
• amitaujasaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: amita-aujas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहिसमास (possessive): अमिता ओजः यस्य सः (whose strength is immeasurable); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

Context

Thereupon, having decided to churn (the ocean mind) those very powerful ones, made Vasuki, (the great snake), as a rope and Mandara mountain as the churning rod.And started churning it.

Characters & Entities

• Viśvāmitra
• Rāma
• Vāsuki
• Mandara (mountain)
• Kṣīroda (Ocean of Milk, implied)

FAQs

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

Dharma is seen in determination and coordinated effort: great undertakings require resolve, proper instruments, and shared responsibility—yet dharma also later evaluates whether the strong use power with restraint.

What is the narrative situation?

The churning is operationalized: Vāsuki is used as the rope and Mandara as the churning rod.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Perseverance and organization—turning intention into sustained action.