Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 20, Shloka 15

राज्ञः शङ्का

प्रत्याख्यानम् (Daśaratha’s Objections to Sending Rāma) — Bala Kanda, Sarga 20

Devanagari script

सर्वं मे शंस भगवन्कथं तेषां मया रणे।।1.20.14।।स्थातव्यं दुष्टभावानां वीर्योत्सिक्ता हि राक्षसा:।4तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा विश्वामित्रोऽभ्यभाषत।।1.20.15।।

Transliteration

sarvaṃ me śaṃsa bhagavan kathaṃ teṣāṃ mayā raṇe ||1.20.14||

sthātavyaṃ duṣṭa-bhāvānāṃ vīryotsiktā hi rākṣasāḥ |

tasya tad-vacanaṃ śrutvā viśvāmitro 'bhyabhāṣata ||1.20.15||

Translation

Bạch bậc đáng tôn kính, xin hãy giảng cho trẫm mọi điều—trẫm phải đối diện chúng trong chiến trận ra sao? Bọn rākṣasa vốn tâm địa ác độc, lại phồng lên vì kiêu mạn trước sức mạnh của mình. Nghe lời Daśaratha, Viśvāmitra đáp lại.

Word by Word

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; षष्ठी विभक्ति (Genitive/षष्ठी), एकवचन

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम-विशेषण; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/द्वितीया), एकवचन; ‘वचनम्’ इति विशेष्य

• वचनम्: speech/words
• वचनम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/द्वितीया), एकवचन; ‘श्रुत्वा’ इति क्रियायाः कर्म

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया/Anterior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śru (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय-कृदन्त (gerund/absolutive); पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having heard)

• विश्वामित्रः: Viśvāmitra
• विश्वामित्रः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viśvāmitra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• अभ्यभाषत: spoke / replied
• अभ्यभाषत: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi√bhāṣ (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past/लङ्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Context

O venerable one, how to fight those wickednatured ones in the battle and stay aginst them? For rakshasas are proud of their prowess". Having heard the words of Dasaratha, Viswamitra said:

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Viśvāmitra
• rākṣasas

FAQs

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

A dharmic ruler seeks truthful instruction from a sage when confronting adharma; moral clarity is pursued through inquiry and guidance.

What is the narrative situation?

This verse reiterates Daśaratha’s request for guidance and marks the transition to Viśvāmitra’s reply; the repetition reflects the recension’s overlapping numbering.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Daśaratha’s humility and responsibility in asking how best to resist wicked, prideful aggressors.