Shloka 23

शबलाहरणम्

The Attempted Seizure of Sabalā (Kāmadhenu) and the Triumph of Brahmic Power

Devanagari script

ततोऽस्त्राणि महातेजा विश्वामित्रो मुमोच ह।तैस्तैर्यवनकाम्भोजा: पप्लवाश्चाकुलीकृता:।।।।

Transliteration

tato 'strāṇi mahātejā viśvāmitro mumoca ha | tais tair yavanakāmbhojāḥ paplavāś cākulīkṛtāḥ ||

Translation

随后，大威光的毗湿瓦密多放出诸般神兵；被那些各式飞射所击，夜婆那、甘婆阇与帕普拉婆尽皆惊乱困苦。

Word by Word

• ततः: thereafter
• ततः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: देश/कालवाचक-अव्यय

• अस्त्राणि: weapons (missiles)
• अस्त्राणि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• महातेजाः: most brilliant
• महातेजाः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महā-तेजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—महत्तेजाः

• विश्वामित्रः: Viśvāmitra
• विश्वामित्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्वामित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• मुमोच: released
• मुमोच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मुच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• ह: indeed
• ह: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ह (अव्यय)
• Form: पादपूरण/निपात (particle, often expletive/emphatic)

• तैः: with those
• तैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; here instrumental ‘with those (weapons)’

• तैः: with various
• तैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; पुनरुक्ति for distributive emphasis (tais tais)

• यवनकाम्भोजाः: Yavanas and Kāmbojas
• यवनकाम्भोजाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यवन-काम्भोज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन; द्वन्द्वः—यवनाः च काम्भोजाः च

• पप्लवाः: Paplavas
• पप्लवाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पप्लव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• आकुलीकृताः: were thrown into confusion
• आकुलीकृताः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आकुली+कृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन; भूतकृदन्त (PPP) ‘made distressed/confused’

Context

Thereafter, most brilliant Viswamitra released weapons. With these weapons, the Yavanas, Kambhojas and Paplavas were scattered".ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē bālakāṇḍē catuṣpañcāśassarga:৷৷Thus ends the fiftyfourth sarga of Balakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.

Characters & Entities

• Viśvāmitra
• Yavana
• Kāmboja

FAQs

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

Dharma includes restoring order when violence has erupted—yet the Ramayana repeatedly implies that true righteousness lies in mastery over power, not merely in wielding it.

What is the narrative situation?

Viśvāmitra counters the manifested groups by deploying astras, causing their ranks to scatter in disarray.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Strategic capability and command over spiritual weaponry are emphasized, while the broader episode questions whether power without humility aligns with Dharma.