Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 58, Shloka 19

त्रिशङ्कुशापः

Trishanku’s Curse and Appeal to Viśvāmitra

Devanagari script

अनृतं नोक्तपूर्वं मे न च वक्ष्ये कदाचन।कृच्छ्रेष्वपि गत स्सौम्य क्षत्रधर्मेण ते शपे।।।।

Transliteration

anṛtaṃ noktapūrvaṃ me na ca vakṣye kadācana | kṛcchreṣv api gataḥ saumya kṣatradharmeṇa te śape ||

Translation

温和的尊者啊，我从未说过虚妄之言，也永不将说——纵在艰难困厄之中亦然。以刹帝利之法（dharma）起誓，我向你保证。

Word by Word

• अनृतम्: untruth
• अनृतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय

• उक्त-पूर्वम्: spoken before
• उक्त-पूर्वम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उक्त (कृदन्त, वच्-धातु) + पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषः (उक्तं पूर्वं यस्य/यत्र) = 'previously spoken'; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (अनृतम्)

• मे: by me / my
• मे: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय

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

• वक्ष्ये: I will speak
• वक्ष्ये: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (simple future), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• कदाचन: ever/at any time
• कदाचन: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कदाचन (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• कृच्छ्रेषु: in hardships
• कृच्छ्रेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृच्छ्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), बहुवचन

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्भावना/अपवाद-अव्यय (even/also)

• गतः: having gone / being in
• गतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past participle); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तरि

• सौम्य: O gentle one
• सौम्य: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सौम्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

• क्षत्र-धर्मेण: by kshatriya duty
• क्षत्र-धर्मेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षत्र (प्रातिपदिक) + धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषः (क्षत्रस्य धर्मः); पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन

• ते: to you
• ते: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• शपे: I swear
• शपे: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शप् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपदम्

Context

O Gentle sage! I have never told a lie in spite of troubled circumstances, I shall never dabble in falsehood. I swear upon it by kshatriya morality .

Characters & Entities

• Triśaṅku
• Viśvāmitra
• satya (truthfulness, implied)

FAQs

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

Satya (truthfulness) is affirmed as a non-negotiable duty, upheld even under distress; it is framed as integral to kṣatriya-dharma.

What is the narrative situation?

While pleading his case, Triśaṅku strengthens his credibility before Viśvāmitra by swearing that he has never lied and will not lie.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Truthfulness (satya) combined with steadfastness under hardship.