Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 67, Shloka 2

शिवधनुर्दर्शनं—रामेण धनुर्भङ्गश्च

The Showing of Śiva’s Bow and Rama’s Breaking of It

Devanagari script

ततस्स राजा जनक: सामन्तान्व्यादिदेश ह।धनुरानीयतां दिव्यं गन्धमाल्यविभूषितम्।।।।

Transliteration

tatas sa rājā janakaḥ sāmantān vyādideśa ha | dhanur ānīyatāṃ divyaṃ gandha-mālya-vibhūṣitam ||

Translation

Bấy giờ vua Janaka truyền lệnh cho các chư hầu: “Hãy đem đến cây cung thiêng, được trang sức bằng hương chiên-đàn và vòng hoa.”

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya, adverb

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Masculine, Nominative, Singular

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

• janakaḥ: Janaka
• janakaḥ: Kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृसमानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: janaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; apposition to rājā

• sāmantān: feudatories/attendants
• sāmantān: Karma (कर्म) (persons commanded)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sāmanta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• vyādideśa: ordered
• vyādideśa: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: diś (दिश् धातु) with vi-ā-
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person, Singular, Parasmaipada

• ha: indeed
• ha: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ha (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), narrative/emphatic

• dhanuḥ: the bow
• dhanuḥ: Karta (कर्ता) (in passive construction)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhanus (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular; subject of passive ānīyatām

• ānīyatām: let (it) be brought
• ānīyatām: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā√nī (नी धातु)
• Form: Imperative (लोट्), 3rd person, Singular, Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद), passive sense: "let it be brought"

• divyam: divine
• divyam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: divya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular; agrees with dhanuḥ

• gandha-mālya-vibhūṣitam: adorned with perfumes and garlands
• gandha-mālya-vibhūṣitam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gandha (प्रातिपदिक) + mālya (प्रातिपदिक) + vibhūṣita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त) from vi√bhūṣ (भूष् धातु), Neuter, Nominative, Singular; agrees with dhanuḥ; meaning "adorned with perfumes and garlands"

Context

Thereafter king Janaka said to his feudatories, "Let the divine bow adorned with flowers and sandalpaste be brought".

Characters & Entities

• Janaka
• Śiva-dhanus (divine bow)
• garlands (mālya)

FAQs

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

Dharma as kingly duty and ritual propriety: Janaka conducts the public trial in an orderly, respectful manner, treating sacred objects with honor.

What is the narrative situation?

Janaka initiates the svayaṃvara-condition trial by commanding that the revered bow be brought into the assembly.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Janaka’s responsible governance—maintaining decorum, procedure, and reverence in a major public rite.