Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 63, Shloka 21

विश्वामित्रस्य तपोविघ्नः, मेनकाप्रसङ्गः, महर्षिपदप्रदानम्

Visvamitra’s Austerity Obstructed; Menaka Episode; Conferment of Maharshi Status

Devanagari script

महर्षिशब्दमतुलं स्वार्जितै: कर्मभिश्शुभै:।यदि मे भगवानाह ततोऽहं विजितेन्द्रिय:।।।।

Transliteration

maharṣiśabdam atulaṃ svārjitaiḥ karmabhiḥ śubhaiḥ | yadi me bhagavān āha tato 'haṃ vijitendriyaḥ ||

Translation

“若蒙圣尊宣告我得无比之名号‘摩诃仙’——此乃我以自身吉祥善业所获——那么我便自认已征服诸根（感官）。”

Word by Word

• महर्षिशब्दम्: the title 'maharṣi'
• महर्षिशब्दम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महर्षि + शब्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Acc/2nd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'महर्षेः शब्दः/उपाधिः' (title of maharṣi)

• अतुलम्: incomparable
• अतुलम्: कर्मणि विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अतुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण of 'महर्षिशब्दम्'

• स्वार्जितैः: self-earned
• स्वार्जितैः: करणे विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व + अर्जित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग (agreeing with कर्मभिः), तृतीया (Instr/3rd), बहुवचन; कर्मधारय: 'स्वयम् अर्जितैः' (self-earned)

• कर्मभिः: by deeds
• कर्मभिः: करण (Instrument/Means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instr/3rd), बहुवचन

• शुभैः: auspicious
• शुभैः: करणे विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण of 'कर्मभिः'

• यदि: if
• यदि: अव्यय (Condition marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/शर्त-निपात (conditional conjunction)

• मे: to me
• मे: सम्प्रदान (Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: चतुर्थी/षष्ठी-एकवचन (Dat/Gen sg) एन्क्लिटिक; अत्र चतुर्थी (to me)

• भगवान्: the Lord (Brahmā)
• भगवान्: कर्ता (Subject of 'आह')
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• आह: has said
• आह: क्रिया (Verb in conditional clause)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अह्/ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• ततः: then
• ततः: कालाधिकरण (Temporal adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb): 'then/thereupon'

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: कर्ता (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (Nom/1st), एकवचन

• विजितेन्द्रियः: one who has conquered the senses
• विजितेन्द्रियः: कर्ता-विशेषण (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विजित + इन्द्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि: 'विजितानि इन्द्रियाणि येन सः' (one who has conquered the senses)

Context

"O Adorable one, if you have conferred the incomparable title of 'Maharshi' earned by my auspicious deeds, I feel I have conquered the senses."

Characters & Entities

• Viśvāmitra
• Brahmā (Bhagavān)
• Maharṣi (title)

FAQs

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

Dharma links honor to inner discipline: true greatness is measured by mastery over the senses, not merely by external recognition.

What is the narrative situation?

Viśvāmitra responds to Brahmā’s conferral, interpreting the title as proof of sense-conquest.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Aspiration for indriya-jaya (self-control) as the hallmark of spiritual legitimacy.