Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 67, Shloka 8

शिवधनुर्दर्शनं—रामेण धनुर्भङ्गश्च

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

Devanagari script

इदं धनुर्वरं ब्रह्मन् जनकैरभिपूजितम्।राजभिश्च महावीर्यै: अशक्तै: पूरितुं पुरा।।।।

Transliteration

idaṃ dhanur-varaṃ brahman janakair abhipūjitam | rājabhiś ca mahāvīryaiḥ aśaktaiḥ pūrituṃ purā ||

Translation

婆罗门啊，这张上等之弓自古为阇那迦一族所敬奉；往昔即便是勇力非凡的诸王，也不能将其上弦。

Word by Word

• idam: this
• idam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• dhanurvaram: excellent bow
• dhanurvaram: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhanus + vara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Prathamā, Ekavacana; कर्मधारय-समासः

• brahman: O Brahman
• brahman: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga, Sambodhana, Ekavacana

• janakaiḥ: by the Janakas/kings
• janakaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: janaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Bahuvacana

• abhipūjitam: duly worshipped
• abhipūjitam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: abhi + pūj (धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Kta-PPP, Napumsaka, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• rājabhiḥ: by kings
• rājabhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Bahuvacana

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय)

• mahāvīryaiḥ: by great-valiant (ones)
• mahāvīryaiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā + vīrya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Bahuvacana; कर्मधारयः

• aśaktaiḥ: by the incapable
• aśaktaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-śakta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Bahuvacana

• pūritum: to string/fill (the bow)
• pūritum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/उद्देश्य)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: pūr (धातु)
• Form: Tumun-infinitive (तुमुन्/तुम्), ‘to do’ sense

• purā: formerly
• purā: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: purā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (कालवाचक अव्यय)

Context

"O Brahman! in the olden days, this great bow was worshipped by my forefathers. Powerful kings failed to string this bow.

Characters & Entities

• Janaka
• Viśvāmitra
• kings (collective)
• the bow

FAQs

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

Dharma as qualification and truth: Janaka truthfully states the bow’s difficulty, ensuring the rite rests on genuine merit rather than mere claim or status.

What is the narrative situation?

Janaka introduces the bow’s revered status and extraordinary challenge before it is attempted.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Truthfulness and responsibility—Janaka sets an honest context so that the contest remains fair and dharmic.