Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 22, Shloka 11

बलातिबलोपदेशः

The Instruction of Bala and Atibala

Devanagari script

अध्यर्धयोजनं गत्वा सरय्वा दक्षिणे तटे।रामेति मधुरां वाणीं विश्वामित्रोऽभ्यभाषत।।1.22.11।।

Transliteration

adhyardhayojanaṃ gatvā sarayvā dakṣiṇe taṭe |

rāmeti madhurāṃ vāṇīṃ viśvāmitro 'bhyabhāṣata ||

Translation

Đi hơn nửa do-tuần dọc bờ nam sông Sarayū, Viśvāmitra cất lời dịu ngọt gọi tên: “Rāma…”, mà nói với Ngài.

Word by Word

• gṛhāṇa: take/accept
• gṛhāṇa: Kriyā (आज्ञार्थक-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: grah (ग्रह्-धातु)
• Form: Imperative (लोट्), 2nd person (मध्यमपुरुष), Singular; ātmanepada

• vatsa: O child
• vatsa: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vatsa (वत्स-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• salilam: water
• salilam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: salila (सलिल-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• mā: do not/let not
• mā: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: mā (मा-अव्यय)
• Form: Prohibitive particle (निषेधार्थक निपात), used with optative/imperative/aorist

• bhūt: be/occur
• bhūt: Kriyā (निषेध-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (भू-धातु)
• Form: Aorist/benedictive-like injunctive form used with mā; 3rd person, Singular (भूत्)

• kālasya: of time
• kālasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāla (काल-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th), Singular

• paryayaḥ: delay/turning away
• paryayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता; of bhūt)
• Type: Noun
• Root: paryaya (पर्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• mantra-grāmam: a collection of mantras
• mantra-grāmam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mantra (मन्त्र-प्रातिपदिक) + grāma (ग्राम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (मन्त्राणां ग्रामः = collection)

• gṛhāṇa: receive
• gṛhāṇa: Kriyā (आज्ञार्थक-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: grah (ग्रह्-धातु)
• Form: Imperative (लोट्), 2nd person, Singular; ātmanepada (repetition for emphasis)

• tvam: you
• tvam: Karta (कर्ता; implied for gṛhāṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (युष्मद्-सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Second person pronoun; Nominative, Singular

• balām: Balā (mantra)
• balām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: balā (बला-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular; name of a mantra

• atibalām: Atibalā (mantra)
• atibalām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ati-balā (अति+बला-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (अतिशयेन बला)

• tathā: and also/likewise
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (तथा-अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction/adverb (समुच्चय/प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय)

Context

After crossing a distance of over half a yojana on the southern bank of Sarayu, Viswamitra addressed Rama sweet in a gentle voice.

Characters & Entities

• Viśvāmitra
• Rāma
• Sarayū river

FAQs

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

Dharma is transmitted through respectful guru–śiṣya engagement; the sage’s gentle address signals instruction meant for righteous action.

What is the narrative situation?

During the journey by the Sarayū, Viśvāmitra begins direct instruction by addressing Rāma.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Teachability and attentiveness: Rāma is positioned as a disciplined student ready to receive sacred instruction.