Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 45, Shloka 18

विशालानगरीप्रवेशः

Entry toward Viśālā and the Indra–Kṣīrodamathana Legend

Devanagari script

ततो निश्चित्य मथनं योक्त्रं कृत्वा च वासुकिम्।मन्थानं मन्दरं कृत्वा ममन्थुरमितौजस:।।।।

Transliteration

tato niścitya mathanaṃ yoktraṃ kṛtvā ca vāsukim | manthānaṃ mandaraṃ kṛtvā mamanthur amitaujasaḥ ||

Translation

于是，他们既已决意搅拌大海，便以婆苏吉（Vāsuki）为绳，以曼陀罗山为搅拌杵；那些威力无量者遂开始搅拌。

Word by Word

• tataḥ: thereupon
• tataḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable adverb); अर्थे: अनन्तरम् (thereupon/then)

• niścitya: having decided
• niścitya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: niś-ci (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); धातु: नि√चि (to decide/ascertain); अव्ययभावः; पूर्वक्रिया (having decided)

• mathanam: churning (act)
• mathanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mathana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया विभक्ति (accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular)

• yoktram: rope (yoking-cord)
• yoktram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yoktra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• kṛtvā: having made
• kṛtvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive); धातु: √कृ (to make/do); पूर्वक्रिया (having made)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• vāsukim: Vāsuki
• vāsukim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāsuki (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया, एकवचन; नाम (proper noun)

• manthānam: churning-rod
• manthānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manthāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• mandaram: Mandara (mountain)
• mandaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mandara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; नाम (proper noun)

• kṛtvā: having made
• kṛtvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive); धातु: √कृ; पूर्वक्रिया (having made)

• mamanthuḥ: they churned
• mamanthuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: manth (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (plural); धातु: √मन्थ् (to churn)

• amitaujasaḥ: men of immeasurable strength
• amitaujasaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: amita-aujas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहिसमास (possessive): अमिता ओजः यस्य सः (whose strength is immeasurable); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

Context

Thereupon, having decided to churn (the ocean mind) those very powerful ones, made Vasuki, (the great snake), as a rope and Mandara mountain as the churning rod.And started churning it.

Characters & Entities

• Viśvāmitra
• Rāma
• Vāsuki
• Mandara (mountain)
• Kṣīroda (Ocean of Milk, implied)

FAQs

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

Dharma is seen in determination and coordinated effort: great undertakings require resolve, proper instruments, and shared responsibility—yet dharma also later evaluates whether the strong use power with restraint.

What is the narrative situation?

The churning is operationalized: Vāsuki is used as the rope and Mandara as the churning rod.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Perseverance and organization—turning intention into sustained action.