Valmiki Ramayana 1.21.1: Bala Kanda, Sarga 21, Shloka 1

बालकाण्डे एकविंशः सर्गः · Daśaratha’s Promise, Vasiṣṭha’s Counsel, and Viśvāmitra’s Weapon

Lore

Setting: Ayodhyā (Daśaratha+cs sabhā)

Devanagari script

तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं तस्य स्नेहपर्याकुलाक्षरम् ।

समन्युः कौशिको वाक्यं प्रत्युवाच महीपतिम् ॥१॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 1.21.1

Transliteration

tac chrutvā vacanaṃ tasya sneha-paryākulākṣaram |

samanyuḥ kauśiko vākyaṃ pratyuvāca mahīpatim ||1||

Translation

听闻国王之言——出于父爱而辞句踌躇——考希迦（毗湿瓦蜜多）心生忿怒，遂答复这位大地之主。

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Word by Word

• tat: that
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; demonstrative pronoun
• Role: Karma (कर्म/object of śrutvā)

• śrutvā: having heard
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śru (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा), indeclinable verbal form; prior action
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया; पूर्वकर्म)

• vacanam: words / statement
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; apposition to tat
• Role: Karma (कर्म/object of śrutvā)

• tasya: of him (the king)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessor)

• sneha-paryākula-akṣaram: with syllables/words confused by affection
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sneha (प्रातिपदिक) + paryākula (प्रातिपदिक) + akṣara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः: (स्नेहेन पर्याकुलम्) + (पर्याकुलम् अक्षरम्/वचनम्)
• Role: Karma (कर्म; qualifier of vacanam)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• sa-manyūḥ: angry / with wrath
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + manyu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; adjective to kauśikaḥ
• Role: Karta (कर्ता; as qualifier)

• kauśikaḥ: Kauśika (Viśvāmitra)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kauśika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular
• Role: Karta (कर्ता/subject)

• vākyam: a reply / words
• Type: Noun
• Root: vākya (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular
• Role: Karma (कर्म/object of pratyuvāca)

• pratyuvāca: replied
• Type: Verb
• Root: prati-√vac (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular; parasmaipada
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया/predicate)

• mahīpatim: to the king
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahīpati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (महीनां पतिः)
• Role: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/to whom; addressee)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

Sandhi Notes

• tac chrutvā = tat + śrutvā (तच्छ्रुत्वा)
• sneha-paryākulākṣaram = sneha + paryākula + akṣaram (स्नेहपर्याकुलाक्षरम्)

Context

Out of affection towards his son, his (king Dasaratha's) plea to Viswamitra was full of contradiction. And on hearing the king, enraged Viswamitra replied:

The teaching

Affection that clouds speech can obstruct dharma; a king must steady himself and uphold truth and guest-duty even against personal attachment.

Duties in tension

• Putra-rakṣā (protecting one+cs son)
• Rājadharma and satya (keeping one+cs word)
• Atithi-dharma (honoring the rṣi+cs request)
• Loka-kalyāṇa (protecting yajña and order)

Ethical theme

Rājadharma / satya-dharma

How it resolves

Escalation toward compliance under dharma-pressure

For your practice

Practice of vairāgya and satya: observe how attachment disturbs clarity; cultivate steadiness in vows and duties.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Raudra (fury), with Karuna (compassion)

Mood

Strained, indignant, wavering

Themes

• Dharma
• Satya
• Rajadharma
• Maryada
• Itihasa
• Ethics

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Viśvāmitra (Kauśika)

FAQs

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

It underscores the tension between personal attachment and principled commitment: a king’s affectionate hesitation can conflict with the dharmic demand to honor a righteous request and keep one’s word.

What is the narrative situation?

After Daśaratha’s emotional plea regarding Rāma, the narration notes that Viśvāmitra becomes angry and prepares to answer the king.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Viśvāmitra’s uncompromising insistence on dharma and truthfulness (satya), even when confronting royal hesitation.