Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 21, Shloka 1

बालकाण्डे एकविंशः सर्गः

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

Devanagari script

तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं तस्य स्नेहपर्याकुलाक्षरम्।समन्यु: कौशिको वाक्यं प्रत्युवाच महीपतिम्।।।।

Transliteration

tac chrutvā vacanaṃ tasya sneha-paryākulākṣaram | samanyuḥ kauśiko vākyaṃ pratyuvāca mahīpatim ||

Translation

Nghe lời của đức vua—thốt ra trong tình phụ tử nên câu chữ bối rối—Kauśika (Viśvāmitra) lòng đầy phẫn nộ, liền đáp lại bậc chúa tể cõi đất.

Word by Word

• tat: that
• tat: Karma (कर्म/object of śrutvā)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; demonstrative pronoun

• śrutvā: having heard
• śrutvā: Kriya (क्रिया; पूर्वकर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śru (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा), indeclinable verbal form; prior action

• vacanam: words / statement
• vacanam: Karma (कर्म/object of śrutvā)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; apposition to tat

• tasya: of him (the king)
• tasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• sneha-paryākula-akṣaram: with syllables/words confused by affection
• sneha-paryākula-akṣaram: Karma (कर्म; qualifier of vacanam)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sneha (प्रातिपदिक) + paryākula (प्रातिपदिक) + akṣara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः: (स्नेहेन पर्याकुलम्) + (पर्याकुलम् अक्षरम्/वचनम्)

• sa-manyūḥ: angry / with wrath
• sa-manyūḥ: Karta (कर्ता; as qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + manyu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; adjective to kauśikaḥ

• kauśikaḥ: Kauśika (Viśvāmitra)
• kauśikaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kauśika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• vākyam: a reply / words
• vākyam: Karma (कर्म/object of pratyuvāca)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vākya (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• pratyuvāca: replied
• pratyuvāca: Kriya (क्रिया/predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: prati-√vac (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular; parasmaipada

• mahīpatim: to the king
• mahīpatim: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/to whom; addressee)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahīpati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (महीनां पतिः)

Context

Out of affection towards his son, his (king Dasaratha's) plea to Viswamitra was full of contradiction. And on hearing the king, enraged Viswamitra replied:

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Viśvāmitra (Kauśika)

FAQs

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

It underscores the tension between personal attachment and principled commitment: a king’s affectionate hesitation can conflict with the dharmic demand to honor a righteous request and keep one’s word.

What is the narrative situation?

After Daśaratha’s emotional plea regarding Rāma, the narration notes that Viśvāmitra becomes angry and prepares to answer the king.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Viśvāmitra’s uncompromising insistence on dharma and truthfulness (satya), even when confronting royal hesitation.