Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 21, Shloka 16

बालकाण्डे एकविंशः सर्गः

Daśaratha’s Promise, Vasiṣṭha’s Counsel, and Viśvāmitra’s Weapon-Lore

Devanagari script

पञ्चाशतं सुतान् लेभे जया नाम परान् पुरा।वधायासुरसैन्यानाममेयान् कामरूपिण:।।।।

Transliteration

pañcāśataṃ sutān lebhe jayā nāma parān purā | vadhāyāsura-sainyānām ameyān kāma-rūpiṇaḥ ||

Translation

往昔，胜利女（Jaya）生下五十位卓绝之子——威力无量，随心变形——为诛灭阿修罗诸军而设。

Word by Word

• pañcāśatam: fifty
• pañcāśatam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pañcāśat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• sutān: sons
• sutān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: suta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• lebhe: obtained/bore
• lebhe: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √labh (लभ्, धातु)
• Form: लिट्/परिपूर्णभूत (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), आत्मनेपद (Ātmanepada)

• jayā: Jaya
• jayā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jayā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• nāma: by name
• nāma: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nāma (अव्यय)
• Form: नाम-शब्दः (indeclinable used for naming: 'by name')

• parān: excellent/supreme
• parān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), बहुवचन (Plural); विशेषणम् to sutān

• purā: formerly/once
• purā: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: purā (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• vadhāya: for the destruction
• vadhāya: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vadha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (Dative), एकवचन (Singular); प्रयोजनार्थ (purpose)

• asura-sainyānām: of the armies of asuras
• asura-sainyānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asura (प्रातिपदिक) + sainya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive: 'of the asura-armies'); नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), बहुवचन (Plural)

• ameyān: immeasurable
• ameyān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ameya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), बहुवचन (Plural); विशेषणम् to sutān

• kāma-rūpiṇaḥ: able to assume forms at will
• kāma-rūpiṇaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kāma (प्रातिपदिक) + rūpin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (determinative: 'having form at will'); पुंलिङ्ग (m.), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), बहुवचन (Plural); विशेषणम् to sutān

Context

Formerly Jaya, for the destruction of the army of asuras gave birth to fifty sons by virtue of a boon. They possess immeasurable power of changing forms at will.

Characters & Entities

• Jaya
• Asuras

FAQs

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

Power is justified when oriented to protection against adharma: the capacity for destruction is framed as defensive—aimed at restraining hostile forces.

What is the narrative situation?

The genealogy continues, specifying Jaya’s fifty sons and their purpose against asuric forces.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Protective strength—might directed toward safeguarding cosmic order rather than personal gain.