Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 67, Shloka 4

शिवधनुर्दर्शनं—रामेण धनुर्भङ्गश्च

The Showing of Śiva’s Bow and Rama’s Breaking of It

Devanagari script

नृणां शतानि पञ्चाशद्व्यायतानां महात्मनाम्।मञ्जूषामष्टचक्रां तां समूहुस्ते कथञ्चन।।।।

Transliteration

nṛṇāṃ śatāni pañcāśad vyāyatānāṃ mahātmanām | mañjūṣām aṣṭacakrāṃ tāṃ samūhus te kathañcana ||

Translation

پانچ ہزار مہاتما، دراز قامت اور زور آور مردوں نے بڑی دشواری سے اس آٹھ پہیوں والی صندوق گاڑی کو کھینچا۔

Word by Word

• nṛṇām: of men
• nṛṇām: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठीसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th), Plural

• śatāni: hundreds
• śatāni: Karta (कर्ता) (as count phrase)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Plural; with numeral pañcāśat (50)

• pañcāśat: fifty
• pañcāśat: Saṅkhyā-viśeṣaṇa (संख्याविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pañcāśat (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Numeral (संख्या), indeclinable-like in form here; qualifies śatāni: "fifty"

• vyāyatānām: of stalwart/strong men
• vyāyatānām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vyāyata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural; qualifies mahātmanām/nṛṇām

• mahātmanām: of great men
• mahātmanām: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठीसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• mañjūṣām: the chest/box
• mañjūṣām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mañjūṣā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• aṣṭa-cakrām: eight-wheeled
• aṣṭa-cakrām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aṣṭa (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + cakra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular; dvigu adjective qualifying mañjūṣām: "eight-wheeled"

• tām: that
• tām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Feminine, Accusative, Singular; refers to mañjūṣām

• samūhuḥ: dragged/drew together
• samūhuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam√ūh (ऊह् धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person, Plural, Parasmaipada

• te: they
• te: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• kathañcana: with great difficulty
• kathañcana: Prakāra (प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kathañcana (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, adverb: "somehow, with difficulty"

Context

Five thousand mighty stalwarts drew with great difficulty the eight-wheeled cart on which the bow was placed in a box.

Characters & Entities

• the bow

FAQs

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

Dharma as collective effort in a righteous public act: many cooperate to uphold the king’s vow and the integrity of the rite.

What is the narrative situation?

The bow’s immense weight and sanctity are emphasized as thousands struggle to move its chest-cart into place.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Perseverance and coordinated service—strength and determination applied for a legitimate ceremonial purpose.