HomeRamayanaBala KandaSarga 31Shloka 8
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Shloka 8

सिद्धाश्रमात् शोणातटं प्रस्थानम् — Departure from Siddhāśrama and the Invitation to Janaka’s Yajña

Bow of Mithilā

तद्धि पूर्वं नरश्रेष्ठ दत्तं सदसि दैवतै:।अप्रमेयबलं घोरं मखे परमभास्वरम्।।1.31.8।।

tad dhi pūrvaṃ naraśreṣṭha dattaṃ sadasi daivataiḥ | aprameyabalaṃ ghoraṃ makhe paramabhāsvaram || 1.31.8 ||

因为那张弓啊,人中至胜者,乃往昔诸天在祭会之中所赐;其威可怖,力不可量,于祭仪之中光辉至极。

tatthat (bow)
tat:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Roottad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
FormPronoun, Neuter, Nominative (1st)/Accusative (2nd), Singular; here refers to the bow (understood dhanuḥ)
dhiindeed/for
dhi:
Nipāta (निपात)
TypeIndeclinable
Roothi (अव्यय)
FormCausal/emphatic particle (निपात)
pūrvamformerly
pūrvam:
Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootpūrva (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययवत्)
FormAdverb of time (कालवाचक-अव्यय)
naraśreṣṭhaO best of men
naraśreṣṭha:
Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
TypeNoun
Rootnara + śreṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Vocative (8th), Singular
dattambestowed
dattam:
Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa / Predicative (विशेष्य-विशेषणभाव)
TypeAdjective
Root√dā (धातु)
FormPast passive participle (क्त), Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular; ‘given/bestowed’; agrees with tat (bow)
sadasiin the assembly
sadasi:
Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootsadas (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; ‘in the assembly’
daivataiḥby the gods
daivataiḥ:
Kartṛ (कर्ता) in passive / Karaṇa (करण)
TypeNoun
Rootdaivata (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter, Instrumental (3rd), Plural; agent in passive construction with dattaṃ
aprameya-balamof immeasurable strength
aprameya-balam:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Roota + prameya + bala (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular; karmadhāraya: ‘aprameyaṃ balaṃ yasya’ used adjectivally; qualifying tat (bow)
ghoramterrible
ghoram:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootghora (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular; qualifying tat (bow)
makheat the sacrifice
makhe:
Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootmakha (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Locative (7th), Singular; ‘at the sacrifice’
parama-bhāsvaramsupremely radiant
parama-bhāsvaram:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootparama + bhāsvara (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular; qualifying tat (bow)

O best among men, this bow of immeasurable energy. dreadful and highly lustrous was bestowed on king Janaka by devatas in a sacrificial assembly in the past.

R
Rāma
D
Divine bow (dhanus)

FAQs

Dharma is linked to yajña as a sanctified sphere where divine order is affirmed; sacred objects are portrayed as entrusted to uphold righteous purposes, not mere power.

The sages explain the bow’s divine origin: it was granted by the gods in an ancient sacrificial context and is famed for its overwhelming power.

Reverence for sacred provenance—recognizing that power is legitimate when rooted in dharma and divine sanction.