Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 67, Shloka 12

शिवधनुर्दर्शनं—रामेण धनुर्भङ्गश्च

The Showing of Śiva’s Bow and Rama’s Breaking of It

Devanagari script

विश्वामित्रस्तु धर्मात्मा श्रुत्वा जनकभाषितम्।वत्स राम धनु: पश्य इति राघवमब्रवीत्।।।।

Transliteration

viśvāmitras tu dharmātmā śrutvā janakabhāṣitam | vatsa rāma dhanuḥ paśya iti rāghavam abravīt || 1.67.12 ||

Translation

听了阇那迦的话，秉持正法的毗湿瓦密多对罗伽婆说道：“孩子罗摩，看看这张弓。”

Word by Word

• viśvāmitraḥ: Viśvāmitra
• viśvāmitraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viśvāmitra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• tu: however
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (तु = ‘but/indeed’)

• dharmātmā: righteous-souled
• dharmātmā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dharma + ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; बहुव्रीहिः (धर्मः आत्मा यस्य)

• śrutvā: having heard
• śrutvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: śru (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा)

• janakabhāṣitam: Janaka's words
• janakabhāṣitam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: janaka + bhāṣita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (जनकेन भाषितम्)

• vatsa: O child
• vatsa: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vatsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga, Sambodhana, Ekavacana

• rāma: O Rāma
• rāma: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga, Sambodhana, Ekavacana

• dhanuḥ: the bow
• dhanuḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhanus (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• paśya: see
• paśya: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: Loṭ-lakāra (imperative), Madhyama-puruṣa, Ekavacana; Parasmaipada

• iti: thus
• iti: Vākyārtha-dyotaka (वाक्यार्थ-द्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Quotative particle (इति-वाचक)

• rāghavam: to Rāghava (Rāma)
• rāghavam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāghava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• abravīt: said
• abravīt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: brū (धातु)
• Form: Luṅ-lakāra (aorist/लुङ्), Prathama-puruṣa, Ekavacana; Parasmaipada

Context

Having heard the words of Janaka, the righteous Viswamitra said: "O Child! O Descendant of Raghu! look at this bow".

Characters & Entities

• Viśvāmitra
• Janaka
• Rāma (Rāghava)
• the bow (Śiva-dhanus / Pināka)

FAQs

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

Dharma of obedience and discipline: Rāma acts under the guru’s instruction, showing that rightful action proceeds through guidance, not ego.

What is the narrative situation?

Viśvāmitra prompts Rāma to approach and view the bow that has been brought out.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Viśvāmitra’s protective mentorship and Rāma’s readiness to follow rightful command.