Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 63, Shloka 8

विश्वामित्रस्य तपोविघ्नः, मेनकाप्रसङ्गः, महर्षिपदप्रदानम्

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

Devanagari script

इत्युक्ता सा वरारोहा तत्र वासमथाकरोत्।।1.63.7।।तस्यां वसन्त्यां वर्षाणि पञ्च पञ्च च राघव ।विश्वामित्राश्रमे राम सुखेन व्यतिचक्रमु:।।1.63.8।।

Transliteration

ity uktā sā varārohā tatra vāsam athākarot | tasyāṃ vasantyāṃ varṣāṇi pañca pañca ca rāghava | viśvāmitrāśrame rāma sukhena vyaticakramuḥ ||

Translation

她听罢此言，那位高贵的女子便在那里居住；罗伽婆啊，罗摩啊，当她住在毗湿瓦密多的道场时，十年安然流逝。

Word by Word

• atha: then
• atha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, discourse particle

• kāle: when the time
• kāle: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, locative (सप्तमी) singular

• gate: having passed
• gate: Kāla (काल in locative absolute)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gam (धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Kṛdanta PPP (क्त), masculine/neuter locative singular agreeing with kāle; locative absolute sense ‘when (it) had passed’

• tasmin: in that
• tasmin: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma-subanta, masculine/neuter, locative (सप्तमी) singular; with kāle forming ‘in that time’

• viśvāmitraḥ: Viśvāmitra
• viśvāmitraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viśvāmitra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, nominative (प्रथमा) singular

• mahāmuniḥ: the great sage
• mahāmuniḥ: Karta (कर्ता/apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā + muni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Samāsa: karmadhāraya ‘great sage’; masculine, nominative (प्रथमा) singular; apposition to viśvāmitraḥ

• savrīḍaḥ: ashamed
• savrīḍaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa + vrīḍa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, nominative (प्रथमा) singular; ‘with shame’

• iva: as if
• iva: Upamā (उपमा-marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, simile particle

• saṃvṛttaḥ: became
• saṃvṛttaḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/predicate complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vṛt (धातु) + kta (क्त) with sam- (उपसर्ग)
• Form: Kṛdanta PPP (क्त), masculine, nominative (प्रथमा) singular; predicate adjective to viśvāmitraḥ

• cintā-śoka-parāyaṇaḥ: absorbed in anxious grief
• cintā-śoka-parāyaṇaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: cintā (प्रातिपदिक) + śoka (प्रातिपदिक) + parāyaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Samāsa: tatpuruṣa (determinative; ‘devoted/absorbed in thought and grief’); masculine, nominative (प्रथमा) singular

Context

On seeing her (Menaka) Viswamitra came under the influence of the god of love (fell in love with her). He said, O Apsara! welcome to my hermitage stay here. I am infatuated with you: Oblige me. Wish you well.

Characters & Entities

• Menakā
• Viśvāmitra

FAQs

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

Sustained discipline is central to Dharma: prolonged indulgence can undo years of spiritual effort, so one must protect vows over time.

What is the narrative situation?

This line repeats the account that ten years passed with Menakā residing in Viśvāmitra’s hermitage (as represented in the provided Southern Recension input).

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The need for steadiness (sthiti) and restraint, highlighted by the implied loss of ascetic focus.