Shloka 12

अस्त्रग्रहणं संहारोपदेशश्च

Receiving the Astras and Instruction on Withdrawal

Devanagari script

बाढमित्येव काकुत्स्थ: प्रहृष्टेनान्तारात्मना।

दिव्यभास्वरदेहाश्च मूर्तिमन्तस्सुखप्रदा:।।1.28.11

केचिदङ्गारसदृशा: केचिद्धूमोपमास्तथा।

चन्द्रार्कसदृशा: केचित्प्रह्वाञ्जलिपुटास्तथा।।1.28.12।।

रामं प्राञ्जलयो भूत्वाऽब्रुवन् मधुरभाषिण:।

इमे स्म नरशार्दूल शाधि किं करवाम ते।।1.28.13।।

Transliteration

kecid aṅgāra-sadṛśāḥ kecid dhūmopamās tathā |

candrārka-sadṛśāḥ kecit prahvāñjali-puṭās tathā || 1.28.12 ||

Translation

其中一些阿斯特拉神祇显现如炭火般黝黑，另一些如烟雾一般；有的光耀如月与日，有的则俯身合掌，恭敬而立。

Word by Word

• केचित्: some (of them)
• केचित्: कर्ता (Agent/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क-चित् (प्रातिपदिक: किम् + चित्)
• Form: सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिकम्; पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः बहुवचनम् (pronoun; masculine nominative plural)

• अङ्गार-सदृशाः: resembling embers/coal
• अङ्गार-सदृशाः: विशेषणम् (Qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अङ्गार + सदृश (प्रातिपदिक-द्वयम्)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समासः (अङ्गारस्य सदृशाः); पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः बहुवचनम् (masculine nominative plural; agreeing with केचित्)

• केचित्: some (others)
• केचित्: कर्ता (Agent/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क-चित् (प्रातिपदिक: किम् + चित्)
• Form: सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिकम्; पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः बहुवचनम् (pronoun; masculine nominative plural)

• धूम-उपमाः: like smoke
• धूम-उपमाः: विशेषणम् (Qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धूम + उपमा (प्रातिपदिक-द्वयम्)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समासः (धूमस्य उपमाः/धूमोपमाः); पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः बहुवचनम् (masculine nominative plural; agreeing with केचित्)

• तथा: and/also/likewise
• तथा: सम्बन्ध/प्रकार (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्ययम्)
• Form: अव्ययम्; प्रकारवाचकम्/समुच्चयार्थक-अव्ययम् (indeclinable; adverb/conjunctive sense: 'thus/also')

• चन्द्र-अर्क-सदृशाः: resembling the moon and the sun
• चन्द्र-अर्क-सदृशाः: विशेषणम् (Qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चन्द्र + अर्क + सदृश (प्रातिपदिक-त्रयम्)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समासः (चन्द्रार्कयोः सदृशाः); पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः बहुवचनम् (masculine nominative plural; agreeing with केचित्)

• केचित्: some (others)
• केचित्: कर्ता (Agent/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क-चित् (प्रातिपदिक: किम् + चित्)
• Form: सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिकम्; पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः बहुवचनम् (pronoun; masculine nominative plural)

• प्रह्व-अञ्जलि-पुटाः: with folded hands (añjali) and bowed down
• प्रह्व-अञ्जलि-पुटाः: विशेषणम् (Qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रह्व + अञ्जलि + पुट (प्रातिपदिक-त्रयम्)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समासः (प्रह्वः अञ्जलिपुटः येषां ते/प्रह्वाञ्जलिपुटाः इति बहुवचन-प्रथमा); पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः बहुवचनम् (masculine nominative plural; describing the same group)

• तथा: also/likewise
• तथा: सम्बन्ध/प्रकार (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्ययम्)
• Form: अव्ययम्; प्रकारवाचकम्/समुच्चयार्थक-अव्ययम् (indeclinable; adverb/conjunctive sense: 'also/likewise')

Context

"Certainly" said Rama, and with a delighted heart received the astras. Some of the astra devatas were coal-black, some like smoke, some resembled rays of Sun or Moon. Assuming corporal forms, with shining, divine bodies, those weapons the their bodies bent down and palms folder they spoke to Rama in a gentle voice: "O tiger among men, here we are, What can we do for you"?

Characters & Entities

• Candra (Moon)
• Rāma (implied by context of their appearance before him)

FAQs

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

Dharma is expressed as reverence and self-restraint before sacred power: even immense force (astras) is framed within humility (bowed posture, joined palms), implying that power must remain subordinate to righteous conduct.

What is the narrative situation?

After Viśvāmitra transmits the weapon-mantras to Rāma, the presiding deities of those astras manifest in visible forms of varying radiance and approach in a posture of respectful submission.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s worthiness to bear power is indirectly emphasized: divine forces respond to him respectfully, underscoring his fitness, discipline, and dhārmic authority to wield weapons only under righteous intent.