Shloka 17

सगरस्य पुत्रलाभः

Sagara’s Boons, Progeny, and the Rise of the Sixty Thousand

Devanagari script

सुमतिस्तु नरव्याघ्र गर्भतुम्बं व्यजायत।षष्ठि: पुत्रसहस्राणि तुम्बभेदाद्विनि:सृता:।।।।

Transliteration

sumatis tu naravyāghra garbhatumbaṃ vyajāyata | ṣaṣṭiḥ putrasahasrāṇi tumbabhedād viniḥsṛtāḥ ||

Translation

然而苏摩提啊，人中之虎，她所生如葫芦般的胎囊；待葫芦裂开之时，六万之子由其中涌出。

Word by Word

• सुमतिः: Sumati
• सुमतिः: कर्ता
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुमति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तु: indeed / but
• तु: निपात
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (contrast/emphasis)

• नर-व्याघ्र: O tiger among men
• नर-व्याघ्र: सम्बोधन
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक) + व्याघ्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः ('tiger among men')

• गर्भ-तुम्बम्: a gourd-like foetus (mass)
• गर्भ-तुम्बम्: कर्म
• Type: Noun
• Root: गर्भ (प्रातिपदिक) + तुम्ब (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः ('gourd-like womb/foetus-container')

• व्यजायत: gave birth
• व्यजायत: क्रिया
• Type: Verb
• Root: जन् (धातु) उपसर्गः वि-
• Form: लङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद

• षष्ठिः: sixty
• षष्ठिः: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षष्ठि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; संख्या (numeral) qualifying putrasahasrāṇi by sense

• पुत्र-सहस्राणि: thousands of sons
• पुत्र-सहस्राणि: कर्ता
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक) + सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः

• तुम्ब-भेदात्: from the breaking of the gourd
• तुम्ब-भेदात्: अपादान (Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तुम्ब (प्रातिपदिक) + भेद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (Ablative/पञ्चमी), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः ('from the bursting of the gourd')

• विनिःसृताः: came out / emerged
• विनिःसृताः: क्रियाविशेषण/विधेय (predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सृ (धातु) उपसर्गाः वि- + निः-
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (Past Passive Participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; agrees with putrasahasrāṇi by sense (sons)

Context

O best among men, Sumati gave birth to a gourd-like foetus and when it burst open, sixty thousand sons emerged.

Characters & Entities

• Sumati
• Sagara

FAQs

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

It underscores the epic view that outcomes (even extraordinary births) unfold within a moral-cosmic order; progeny is treated as consequential for the future duties and karmic trajectories of a dynasty.

What is the narrative situation?

The second queen’s unusual childbirth is described, introducing the vast host of Sagara’s sons who will later drive major events.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Endurance and hope in fulfilling responsibility for family and kingdom, even through extraordinary circumstances.