Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 51, Shloka 14

शतानन्दोपदेशः

Śatānanda’s Welcome to Rāma and the Prelude to Viśvāmitra’s History

Devanagari script

अचिन्त्यकर्मा तपसा ब्रह्मर्षिरतुलप्रभ:।विश्वामित्रो महातेजा वेत्स्येनं परमां गतिम्।।।।

Transliteration

acintya-karmā tapasā brahmarṣir atula-prabhaḥ | viśvāmitro mahā-tejā vetsi enaṁ paramāṁ gatim ||

Translation

“Viśvāmitra, bậc đại quang minh, đã thành tựu những công hạnh không thể nghĩ bàn; nhờ khổ hạnh mà chứng địa vị Brahmarṣi, rực rỡ vô song. Hãy biết ngài là nương tựa và cứu cánh tối thượng.”

Word by Word

• acintyakarmā: whose deeds are inconceivable
• acintyakarmā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-cintya-karman (प्रातिपदिक; अचिन्त्य + कर्मन्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि (अचिन्त्यानि कर्माणि यस्य सः)

• tapasā: by austerity
• tapasā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tapas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन

• brahmarṣiḥ: Brahmarṣi
• brahmarṣiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman-ṛṣi (प्रातिपदिक; ब्रह्मन् + ऋषि)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (ब्रह्मणः/ब्रह्मविदां ऋषिः)

• atulaprabhaḥ: of incomparable radiance
• atulaprabhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: atula-prabhā (प्रातिपदिक; अतुल + प्रभा)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (viśvāmitraḥ)

• viśvāmitraḥ: Viśvāmitra
• viśvāmitraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viśvāmitra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• mahātejāḥ: greatly splendid
• mahātejāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā-tejas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• vetsi: you know
• vetsi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vid (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (present), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• enam: him
• enam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• paramām: supreme
• paramām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (gatim)

• gatim: state/attainment
• gatim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Context

Highly lustrous Viswamitra has performed deeds which defy all imagination. By his austerities, he became Brahmarshi and possesses unparalleled radiance. Know him to be the supreme resort.

Characters & Entities

• Śatānanda
• Rāma
• Viśvāmitra

FAQs

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

Dharma is reverence for realized spiritual authority: tapas disciplined by truth and purpose yields legitimate moral-spiritual stature, worthy of trust and refuge.

What is the narrative situation?

Śatānanda instructs Rāma about Viśvāmitra’s extraordinary spiritual achievements to frame why following him is auspicious and right.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Viśvāmitra’s tapas and steadfastness—his moral-spiritual ascent is presented as earned, not inherited.