Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 22, Shloka 23

बलातिबलोपदेशः

The Instruction of Bala and Atibala

Devanagari script

दशरथनृपसूनुसत्तमाभ्यां

तृणशयनेऽनुचिते सहोषिताभ्याम्।

कुशिकसुतवचोऽनुलालिताभ्यां

सुखमिव सा विबभौ विभावरी च।।1.22.23।।

Transliteration

daśarathanṛpasūnusattamābhyāṃ tṛṇaśayane 'nucite sahōṣitābhyām | kuśikasutavaco 'nulālitābhyāṃ sukham iva sā vibabhau vibhāvarī ca || 1.22.23 ||

Translation

Đêm ấy dường như cũng hóa êm đềm cho hai bậc vương tử ưu tú của vua Daśaratha, tuy cùng nằm trên giường cỏ xa lạ; nhờ lời dịu dàng vỗ về của con Kuśika (Viśvāmitra) mà lòng được an ủi.

Word by Word

• daśaratha-nṛpa-sūnu-sattamābhyām: by the two best sons of king Daśaratha (Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa)
• daśaratha-nṛpa-sūnu-sattamābhyām: Karaṇa (करणम् / Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daśaratha (प्रातिपदिक) + nṛpa (प्रातिपदिक) + sūnu (प्रातिपदिक) + sattama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine); Tṛtīyā-vibhakti (Instrumental/करण), Dvivacana (Dual); समासः: बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (daśarathasya nṛpasya sūnū, tayoḥ sattamau)

• tṛṇa-śayane: on a bed of grass
• tṛṇa-śayane: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरणम् / Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tṛṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + śayana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुṃsaka (Neuter); Saptamī-vibhakti (Locative/अधिकरण), Ekavacana (Singular); समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (tṛṇasya śayanam)

• anucite: unaccustomed / unsuitable (for them)
• anucite: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anucita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुṃsaka (Neuter); Saptamī-vibhakti (Locative/अधिकरण), Ekavacana; विशेषणम् (qualifies tṛṇaśayane)

• saha-uṣitābhyām: by the two who slept/stayed together
• saha-uṣitābhyām: Karaṇa (करणम् / Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: saha (अव्यय) + √vas (धातु) → uṣita (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine); Tṛtīyā-vibhakti (Instrumental), Dvivacana; कृदन्तः: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle) uṣita = 'having dwelt/slept'; अव्ययीभाव-समासः (saha + uṣita) = 'having stayed together'

• kuśika-suta-vacaḥ-anulālitābhyām: by the two comforted/cheered by the words of Kuśika’s son (Viśvāmitra)
• kuśika-suta-vacaḥ-anulālitābhyām: Karaṇa (करणम् / Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kuśika (प्रातिपदिक) + suta (प्रातिपदिक) + vacas (प्रातिपदिक) + anu-√lal (धातु) → anulālita (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine); Tṛtīyā-vibhakti (Instrumental), Dvivacana; vacaḥ = napuṃsaka-stem used in compound; कृदन्तः: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त anulālita = 'caressed/cheered/comforted'; समासः: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (kuśikasutasya vacaḥ) + तत्पुरुष-सम्बन्धः (tena anulālitau)

• sukham: comfort / ease
• sukham: Karma (कर्म / Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुṃsaka (Neuter); Dvitīyā-vibhakti (Accusative/कर्म), Ekavacana; उपमान-प्रयोगे (as the object of comparison with iva)

• iva: as if / like
• iva: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः / Comparative particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Upamā-avyaya (particle of comparison)

• sā: she (that)
• sā: Karta (कर्ता / Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (Feminine); Prathamā-vibhakti (Nominative/प्रथमा), Ekavacana; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• vibabhau: appeared / seemed
• vibabhau: Kriyā (क्रिया / Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhā (धातु)
• Form: Laṅ-lakāra (Imperfect/Past); Prathama-puruṣa (3rd person), Ekavacana; Parasmaipada; अर्थः: 'shone/appeared'

• vibhāvarī: the night
• vibhāvarī: Karta (कर्ता / Subject-apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vibhāvarī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (Feminine); Prathamā-vibhakti (Nominative), Ekavacana; apposition to sā

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चयः / Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya-avyaya (conjunction)

Context

. Rama, the highly heroic after acquiring knowledge (of the two sciences) and having rendered all services to preceptor Viswamitra, appeared resplendent like the Sungod in autumn. There the three of them spent the night comfortably on the bank of Sarayu.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa
• Daśaratha
• Viśvāmitra (Kuśikasuta)

FAQs

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

Dharma includes cheerful acceptance of hardship for a righteous mission. The princes’ willingness to sleep on grass reflects self-restraint and readiness for duty.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa spend the night outdoors with Viśvāmitra, adapting to ascetic travel conditions.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Simplicity and fraternal steadiness: the brothers endure discomfort together, supported by the guru’s reassuring speech.