Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 25, Shloka 3

ताटकावृत्तान्तः

The Account of Tāṭakā and the Royal Duty to Protect

Devanagari script

विश्वामित्रोऽब्रवीद्वाक्यं शृण येन बलोत्तरा।वरदानकृतं वीर्यं धारयत्यबला बलम्।।।।

Transliteration

viśvāmitro 'bravīd vākyaṃ śṛṇu yena balottarā | vara-dāna-kṛtaṃ vīryaṃ dhārayaty abalā balam ||

Translation

Viśvāmitra nói lời này: Hãy lắng nghe vì sao nàng trở nên vượt trội về sức mạnh—do ân ban của một phúc ân, người nữ ấy đã mang được dũng lực và uy lực như thế.

Word by Word

• viśvāmitraḥ: Viśvāmitra
• viśvāmitraḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viśvāmitra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine/पुंलिङ्ग), Prathamā vibhakti (Nominative/प्रथमा) Ekavacana (Singular/एकवचन)

• abravīt: said/spoke
• abravīt: Kriyā (क्रिया/Finite verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: brū (धातु)
• Form: Laṅ-lakāra (Imperfect/Past/लङ्), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd person/प्रथमपुरुष), Ekavacana (Singular/एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• vākyaṃ: speech/statement
• vākyaṃ: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vākya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुṃsaka-liṅga (Neuter/नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā vibhakti (Accusative/द्वितीया) Ekavacana (Singular/एकवचन)

• śṛṇu: listen
• śṛṇu: Kriyā (क्रिया/Command)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (धातु)
• Form: Loṭ-lakāra (Imperative/लोट्), Madhyama-puruṣa (2nd person/मध्यमपुरुष), Ekavacana (Singular/एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• yena: by which/whereby
• yena: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument; causal link)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (Pronoun/सर्वनाम), Napuṃsaka-liṅga (Neuter/नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Tṛtīyā vibhakti (Instrumental/तृतीया) Ekavacana (Singular/एकवचन)

• balottarā: having superior strength
• balottarā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bala + uttarā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa-samāsa (तत्पुरुष) = bala-uttarā; Strīliṅga (Feminine/स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Prathamā vibhakti (Nominative/प्रथमा) Ekavacana (Singular/एकवचन)

• varadāna-kṛtaṃ: made/caused by a boon
• varadāna-kṛtaṃ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vara + dāna + kṛta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa-samāsa (तत्पुरुष) = varadāna-kṛta; Kṛta (PPP/क्त) from √kṛ (कृ), Napuṃsaka-liṅga (Neuter/नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Prathamā/Dvitīyā vibhakti (Nom/Acc/प्रथमा/द्वितीया) Ekavacana (Singular/एकवचन)

• vīryaṃ: prowess/power
• vīryaṃ: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vīrya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsaka-liṅga (Neuter/नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā vibhakti (Accusative/द्वितीया) Ekavacana (Singular/एकवचन)

• dhārayati: bears/possesses
• dhārayati: Kriyā (क्रिया/Finite verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dhṛ (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (Present/लट्), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd person/प्रथमपुरुष), Ekavacana (Singular/एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• abalā: the woman (Tāṭakā)
• abalā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: abalā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (Feminine/स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Prathamā vibhakti (Nominative/प्रथमा) Ekavacana (Singular/एकवचन)

• balaṃ: strength
• balaṃ: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsaka-liṅga (Neuter/नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā vibhakti (Accusative/द्वितीया) Ekavacana (Singular/एकवचन)

Characters & Entities

• Viśvāmitra
• Rāma
• Tātakā (implied)
• vara (boon)

FAQs

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

Responsible action is grounded in right knowledge; Viśvāmitra prepares Rāma with the factual background before urging a grave deed.

What is the narrative situation?

Viśvāmitra begins explaining the origin of Tātakā’s power, attributing it to a boon.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Teacherly clarity and guidance—imparting context so that duty can be performed wisely.