Shloka 9

सगरपुत्राणां रसातलगमनम्

The Descent of Sagara’s Sons and the Wrath of Kapila

Devanagari script

तेषां तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा पुत्राणां राजसत्तम:।।।।समन्युरब्रवीद्वाक्यं सगरो रघुनन्दन।

Transliteration

teṣāṁ tadvacanaṁ śrutvā putrāṇāṁ rājasattamaḥ | samanyur abravīd vākyaṁ sagaro raghunandana ||

Translation

罗摩啊，听了众子之言，萨伽罗王——诸王之最——怒意顿起，开口答道。

Word by Word

• bhūyaḥ: again
• bhūyaḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: bhūyaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (again/further)

• khanata: dig! excavate!
• khanata: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √khan (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• bhadram: good fortune
• bhadram: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Benediction)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhadra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; आशीर्वादार्थे

• vaḥ: to you (all)
• vaḥ: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान/Dative recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी/चतुर्थी, बहुवचन; here dative sense (to you) in benediction

• nirbhidya: having pierced/riven
• nirbhidya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Converb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: nir-√bhid (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund)

• vasudhātalam: the earth’s surface
• vasudhātalam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vasudhā + tala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (‘surface of the earth’)

• aśva-hartāram: the horse-stealer
• aśva-hartāram: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aśva + hartṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• āsādya: having reached/found
• āsādya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Converb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√sad (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund)

• kṛtārthāḥ: having achieved the goal
• kṛtārthāḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Predicative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛta + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहि (‘whose purpose is accomplished’)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• nivartatha: return!
• nivartatha: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-√vṛt (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद

Context

"O Rama! incensed to fury at the words of his sons, magnanimous king Sagara replied":

Characters & Entities

• Sagara
• sons of Sagara
• Rāma (raghunandana)

FAQs

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

A king’s decisions should be grounded in dharma and truth, not in anger; the verse flags wrath (krodha) as a destabilizing force in governance.

What is the narrative situation?

Sagara hears the report that the horse and thief are still unfound and prepares to respond.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The verse highlights a lapse-risk rather than a virtue: it draws attention to the need for royal self-mastery when provoked.