Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 25, Shloka 3

ताटकावृत्तान्तः

The Account of Tāṭakā and the Royal Duty to Protect

Devanagari script

विश्वामित्रोऽब्रवीद्वाक्यं शृण येन बलोत्तरा।वरदानकृतं वीर्यं धारयत्यबला बलम्।।।।

Transliteration

viśvāmitro 'bravīd vākyaṃ śṛṇu yena balottarā | vara-dāna-kṛtaṃ vīryaṃ dhārayaty abalā balam ||

Translation

毗湿瓦蜜多说道：听我说她如何变得超越强盛——又如何因蒙赐福之恩，那女子得以具足如此威力与力量。

Word by Word

• viśvāmitraḥ: Viśvāmitra
• viśvāmitraḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viśvāmitra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine/पुंलिङ्ग), Prathamā vibhakti (Nominative/प्रथमा) Ekavacana (Singular/एकवचन)

• abravīt: said/spoke
• abravīt: Kriyā (क्रिया/Finite verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: brū (धातु)
• Form: Laṅ-lakāra (Imperfect/Past/लङ्), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd person/प्रथमपुरुष), Ekavacana (Singular/एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• vākyaṃ: speech/statement
• vākyaṃ: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vākya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुṃsaka-liṅga (Neuter/नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā vibhakti (Accusative/द्वितीया) Ekavacana (Singular/एकवचन)

• śṛṇu: listen
• śṛṇu: Kriyā (क्रिया/Command)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (धातु)
• Form: Loṭ-lakāra (Imperative/लोट्), Madhyama-puruṣa (2nd person/मध्यमपुरुष), Ekavacana (Singular/एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• yena: by which/whereby
• yena: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument; causal link)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (Pronoun/सर्वनाम), Napuṃsaka-liṅga (Neuter/नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Tṛtīyā vibhakti (Instrumental/तृतीया) Ekavacana (Singular/एकवचन)

• balottarā: having superior strength
• balottarā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bala + uttarā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa-samāsa (तत्पुरुष) = bala-uttarā; Strīliṅga (Feminine/स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Prathamā vibhakti (Nominative/प्रथमा) Ekavacana (Singular/एकवचन)

• varadāna-kṛtaṃ: made/caused by a boon
• varadāna-kṛtaṃ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vara + dāna + kṛta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa-samāsa (तत्पुरुष) = varadāna-kṛta; Kṛta (PPP/क्त) from √kṛ (कृ), Napuṃsaka-liṅga (Neuter/नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Prathamā/Dvitīyā vibhakti (Nom/Acc/प्रथमा/द्वितीया) Ekavacana (Singular/एकवचन)

• vīryaṃ: prowess/power
• vīryaṃ: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vīrya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsaka-liṅga (Neuter/नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā vibhakti (Accusative/द्वितीया) Ekavacana (Singular/एकवचन)

• dhārayati: bears/possesses
• dhārayati: Kriyā (क्रिया/Finite verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dhṛ (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (Present/लट्), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd person/प्रथमपुरुष), Ekavacana (Singular/एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• abalā: the woman (Tāṭakā)
• abalā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: abalā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (Feminine/स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Prathamā vibhakti (Nominative/प्रथमा) Ekavacana (Singular/एकवचन)

• balaṃ: strength
• balaṃ: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsaka-liṅga (Neuter/नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā vibhakti (Accusative/द्वितीया) Ekavacana (Singular/एकवचन)

Characters & Entities

• Viśvāmitra
• Rāma
• Tātakā (implied)
• vara (boon)

FAQs

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

Responsible action is grounded in right knowledge; Viśvāmitra prepares Rāma with the factual background before urging a grave deed.

What is the narrative situation?

Viśvāmitra begins explaining the origin of Tātakā’s power, attributing it to a boon.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Teacherly clarity and guidance—imparting context so that duty can be performed wisely.