Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 21, Shloka 22

बालकाण्डे एकविंशः सर्गः

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

Devanagari script

तानि चास्त्राणि वेत्त्येष यथावत्कुशिकात्मजः।

अपूर्वाणां च जनने शक्तो भूयस्स धर्मवित्।।

Transliteration

tāni cāstrāṇi vetty eṣa yathāvat kuśikātmajaḥ |

apūrvāṇāṃ ca janane śakto bhūyaḥ sa dharmavit ||

Translation

这位俱尸迦之子对那些神兵了然于心，尽得其法；且他通达达摩，更能生起前所未有的新式神兵。

Word by Word

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: इति-शब्दः (quotative)

• muni: sage
• muni: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), षष्ठी-सम्बन्धे (in compound sense), एकवचन (Singular)

• vacanāt: from the words
• vacanāt: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative), एकवचन (Singular)

• prasanna: pleased
• prasanna: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prasanna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); (citta with)

• cittaḥ: minded
• cittaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: citta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• raghu-vṛṣabhaḥ: foremost of the Raghus
• raghu-vṛṣabhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: raghu (प्रातिपदिक) + vṛṣabha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष; पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा, एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक (conjunction)

• mumoda: rejoiced
• mumoda: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √mud (मुद्, धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• pārthiva: king
• pārthiva: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pārthiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा, एकवचन

• agryaḥ: foremost
• agryaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: agrya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् to pārthiva

• gamanam: going/permission to go
• gamanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gamana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया, एकवचन

• abhiruroca: approved
• abhiruroca: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi-√ruc (रुच्, धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• rāghavasya: of Rāghava
• rāghavasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāghava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• prathita: well-known
• prathita: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prathita (प्रातिपदिक; PPP from √prath)
• Form: कृत् (PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (yaśāḥ with)

• yaśāḥ: famed
• yaśāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yaśas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा, एकवचन (irregular stem yaśas → yaśāḥ)

• kuśika: Kuśika
• kuśika: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kuśika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-सम्बन्धे (in compound sense), एकवचन

• ātmajāya: to the son
• ātmajāya: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātmaja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन

• budhyā: with mind
• budhyā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: buddhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

Characters & Entities

• Vasiṣṭha
• Daśaratha
• Viśvāmitra
• Kuśika
• Astras (divine weapons)

FAQs

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

Power is validated by dharma. Viśvāmitra’s mastery over weapons is framed as grounded in righteousness and disciplined wisdom, not mere force.

What is the narrative situation?

Vasiṣṭha reassures Daśaratha about Viśvāmitra’s competence, emphasizing his complete command of astras and even the ability to generate new ones.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Viśvāmitra’s dharma-jñāna and tapas-born capability—knowledge used for protection and rightful purpose.