Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 66, Shloka 9

शिवधनुर्न्यासकथा तथा सीतोत्पत्तिविवाहशुल्क-निश्चयः

The Bow of Śiva: Its Deposit, Sītā’s Origin, and the Prowess-Brideprice Vow

Devanagari script

दक्षयज्ञवधे पूर्वं धनुरायम्य वीर्यवान्।रुद्रस्तु त्रिदशान् रोषात्सलीलमिदमब्रवीत्।।1.66.9।।

Transliteration

dakṣayajñavadhē pūrvaṃ dhanur āyamya vīryavān | rudras tu tridaśān roṣāt salīlam idam abravīt || 1.66.9 ||

Translation

Thuở trước, khi lễ tế của Dakṣa bị hủy diệt, Rudra dũng mãnh giương cung; vì phẫn nộ, Ngài cất lời với chư Thiên—mà vẫn phảng phất một vẻ đùa nghiêm khốc.

Word by Word

• dakṣa-yajña-vadhe: at the destruction of Dakṣa’s sacrifice
• dakṣa-yajña-vadhe: Kāla/Viṣaya-adhikaraṇa (काल/विषय-अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dakṣa + yajña + vadha (प्रातिपदिकानि)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (दक्षस्य यज्ञस्य वधः), पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• pūrvam: formerly
• pūrvam: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: pūrvam (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb of time)

• dhanuḥ: the bow
• dhanuḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhanus (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• āyamya: having drawn (it)
• āyamya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ā-√yam (धातु) + lyap (ल्यप्)
• Form: क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund), ‘having stretched/drawn’

• vīryavān: mighty
• vīryavān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vīrya-vat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; possessive adjective

• rudraḥ: Rudra
• rudraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rudra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• tu: then/indeed
• tu: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle)

• tridaśān: the gods
• tridaśān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tridaśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन

• roṣāt: from anger
• roṣāt: Hetu/Apādāna (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: roṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/अपादान), एकवचन

• salīlam: sportively
• salīlam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: salīla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् क्रियाविशेषण (adverbial accusative), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; manner

• idam: this (speech)
• idam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• abravīt: said
• abravīt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √brū (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (imperfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

Context

Earlier at the time of destruction of Daksha's sacrifice, Rudra endowed with greatprowess lifted this bow sportively and spoke to the gods.

Characters & Entities

• Janaka
• Viśvāmitra
• Rudra (Śiva)
• Dakṣa
• Tridaśa (the gods)
• the bow (Śiva-dhanus / Pināka)

FAQs

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

The verse recalls how violations of sacred order (yajña-dharma) invite consequences; divine power responds when righteousness and honor are transgressed.

What is the narrative situation?

Janaka continues the bow’s backstory by linking it to Rudra’s act during the Dakṣa-sacrifice episode.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rudra’s uncompromising guardianship of cosmic order—his fierce energy functions as protection of dharma.