Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 45, Shloka 19

विशालानगरीप्रवेशः

Entry toward Viśālā and the Indra–Kṣīrodamathana Legend

Devanagari script

अथ वर्षसहस्रेण योक्त्रसर्पशिरांसि च।वमन्त्यति विषं तत्र ददंशुर्दशनैश्शिला:।।।।

Transliteration

atha varṣasahasreṇa yoktra-sarpa-śirāṃsi ca | vamanty ati-viṣaṃ tatra dadaṃśur daśanaiḥ śilāḥ ||

Translation

پھر ہزار برس گزرنے پر، رسی بنے ہوئے سانپ کے سروں نے وہاں نہایت ہولناک زہر اگلنا شروع کیا، اور اپنے دانتوں سے (مندرَ) کی چٹانوں کو کاٹنے لگے۔

Word by Word

• atha: then
• atha: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable particle/adverb); अनन्तरार्थे (then/thereafter)

• varṣa-sahasreṇa: after a thousand years
• varṣa-sahasreṇa: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: varṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + sahasra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative): वर्षाणां सहस्रम् (a thousand of years); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (instrumental/3rd), एकवचन

• yoktra-sarpa-śirāṃsi: the serpent-heads (as rope)
• yoktra-sarpa-śirāṃsi: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yoktra (प्रातिपदिक) + sarpa (प्रातिपदिक) + śiras (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (determinative chain): योक्त्ररूपस्य सर्पस्य शिरांसि (the heads/hoods of the serpent used as rope); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

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

• vamanti: they vomit/emit
• vamanti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vam (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; धातु: √वम् (to vomit/emit)

• ati: exceedingly
• ati: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ati (अव्यय)
• Form: उपसर्ग/अव्यय (prefix-like intensifier); अतिशयार्थे (excessively/very)

• viṣam: poison
• viṣam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• tatra: there
• tatra: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देशाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb)

• dadaṃśuḥ: they bit
• dadaṃśuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: daṃś (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; धातु: √दंश् (to bite)

• daśanaiḥ: with (their) teeth
• daśanaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daśana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• śilāḥ: rocks
• śilāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śilā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), प्रथमा, बहुवचन

Context

After a thousand years, the hoods of the snake made as rope vomitted venom and started biting the rocks of the Mandara mountain with their teeth.

Characters & Entities

• Viśvāmitra
• Rāma
• Vāsuki (implied by serpent-rope)
• Mandara (implied by mountain/rocks)
• viṣa (poison)

FAQs

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

The verse underscores consequence-awareness: even righteous aims can produce danger (poison) during effort; dharma requires responsibility for harmful byproducts and protection of others through truthful acknowledgment of risk.

What is the narrative situation?

As the churning continues for a long time, poison emerges; the serpent-rope’s heads spew venom and damage the mountain’s rocks.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Endurance under hardship and the implicit need for restraint—powerful forces, if unchecked, become destructive.