Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 40, Shloka 29

सगरपुत्राणां रसातलगमनम्

The Descent of Sagara’s Sons and the Wrath of Kapila

Devanagari script

श्रुत्वा तु वचनं तेषां कपिलो रघुनन्दन।रोषेण महताऽऽविष्टो हुङ्कारमकरोत्तदा।।।।

Transliteration

śrutvā tu vacanaṃ teṣāṃ kapilo raghunandana | roṣeṇa mahatāviṣṭo huṅkāram akarot tadā |

Translation

Nghe lời họ, hiền giả Kapila—hỡi Raghunandana—bị cơn phẫn nộ lớn bao trùm, liền phát ra tiếng “hūṃ” dữ dội.

Word by Word

• putrān: sons
• putrān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: putra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative Plural

• ciragatān: gone for a long time
• ciragatān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: cira (प्रातिपदिक) + gata (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa ‘gone for long’; gata = past participle (क्त) from √gam; Masculine, Accusative Plural; agrees with putrān

• jñātvā: having learned/realized
• jñātvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषणम्)
• Type: Verb
• Root: jñā (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त) from √jñā

• sagaraḥ: Sagara
• sagaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sagara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative Singular

• raghu-nandana: O Raghunandana
• raghu-nandana: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: raghu (प्रातिपदिक) + nandana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa vocative; Masculine, Vocative Singular

• naptāram: grandson
• naptāram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: naptṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative Singular

• abravīt: said
• abravīt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: brū (धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), Parasmaipada, 3rd person Singular

• rājā: the king
• rājā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative Singular; apposition to sagaraḥ

• dīpyamānam: shining/resplendent
• dīpyamānam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dīp (धातु)
• Form: Present middle participle (शानच्), Masculine Accusative Singular; agrees with naptāram

• sva-tejasā: by his own radiance
• sva-tejasā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + tejas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa ‘own splendor’; Neuter, Instrumental Singular

Context

"O descendant of Raghu! Kapila, having heard their words, overwhelmed with great wrath, uttered the sound "H'm".

Characters & Entities

• Kapila
• Sagarātmajāḥ (sons of Sagara) (implicit as 'teṣām')
• Rāma (Raghunandana)

FAQs

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

Words have karmic consequences: disrespectful speech toward the spiritually great can invite immediate downfall. Dharma emphasizes reverence and restraint in addressing sages.

What is the narrative situation?

Kapila reacts to the sons’ accusation and hostile approach by emitting a powerful, wrathful utterance.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Kapila’s tapas (ascetic power) and authority are foregrounded; the narrative underscores the gravity of offending such a figure.