Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 67, Shloka 5

शिवधनुर्दर्शनं—रामेण धनुर्भङ्गश्च

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

Devanagari script

तामादाय तु मञ्जूषामायसीं यत्र तद्धनु:।सुरोपमं ते जनकमूचुर्नृपतिमन्त्रिण:।।।।

Transliteration

tām ādāya tu mañjūṣām āyasīṃ yatra tad dhanuḥ | suropamaṃ te janakam ūcur nṛpati-mantriṇaḥ ||

Translation

Khi đã đem đến chiếc hòm sắt nơi cất giữ cây cung ấy, các cận thần của nhà vua liền thưa với Janaka—đấng uy nghi như chư thiên.

Word by Word

• tām: that
• tām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Feminine, Accusative, Singular; refers to mañjūṣām

• ādāya: having taken
• ādāya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā√dā (दा धातु) + ya (ल्यप्)
• Form: Gerund/absolutive in -ya (ल्यप्), indeclinable; "having taken"

• tu: but/indeed
• tu: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), contrast/emphasis

• mañjūṣām: the chest/box
• mañjūṣām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mañjūṣā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• āyasīm: iron (made of iron)
• āyasīm: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: āyasī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular; agrees with mañjūṣām

• yatra: where
• yatra: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देशाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Relative adverb (सम्बन्ध-अव्यय): "where"

• tat: that
• tat: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Neuter, Nominative, Singular; with dhanuḥ

• dhanuḥ: bow
• dhanuḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण) (location clause subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhanus (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• sura-upamam: god-like
• sura-upamam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sura (प्रातिपदिक) + upama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular; qualifies janakam

• te: they
• te: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Masculine, Nominative, Plural; refers to nṛpatimantriṇaḥ

• janakam: Janaka
• janakam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: janaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular; object of ūcuḥ (addressed)

• ūcuḥ: said
• ūcuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (वच् धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person, Plural, Parasmaipada

• nṛpati-mantriṇaḥ: the king's ministers
• nṛpati-mantriṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nṛpati (प्रातिपदिक) + mantrin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

Context

The counsellors of the king, brought the iron casket containing the bow and said these words to Janaka comparable to a celestial:

Characters & Entities

• Janaka
• ministers/counsellors
• the bow

FAQs

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

Dharma as reverent speech and decorum: even routine actions in sacred/royal contexts are performed with respect and proper address.

What is the narrative situation?

The bow’s container is brought; the ministers formally announce its arrival to Janaka.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Respectful conduct within governance—ministers uphold protocol when presenting a sacred royal heirloom.