Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 74, Shloka 15

परशुरामप्रादुर्भावः

The Appearance of Parasurama on the Return from Mithila

Devanagari script

तमसा संवृतस्सूर्य स्सर्वा न प्रबभुर्दिश।।।।भस्मना चावृतं सर्वं संमूढमिव तद्बलम्।

Transliteration

tamasā saṃvṛtaḥ sūryaḥ sarvā na prababhuḥ diśaḥ | bhasmanā cāvṛtaṃ sarvaṃ saṃmūḍham iva tad balam ||

Translation

黑暗遮蔽了太阳，四方不复光明；万物尽被灰烬覆盖，那支大军仿佛惊惶失措、茫然若迷。

Word by Word

• तमसा: by darkness
• तमसा: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• संवृतः: covered
• संवृतः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject—qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम् + वृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying सूर्यः)

• सूर्यः: the sun
• सूर्यः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सर्वाः: all
• सर्वाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject—qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying दिशः)

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध/negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• प्रबभुः: shone forth
• प्रबभुः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + भा (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपद

• दिशः: directions/quarters
• दिशः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिश् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• भस्मना: with ash
• भस्मना: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भस्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• आवृतम्: covered
• आवृतम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject—qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ + वृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying सर्वम्/बलम् by apposition)

• सर्वम्: all, entire
• सर्वम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject—qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying बलम्)

• संमूढम्: bewildered, stunned
• संमूढम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject—qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम् + मुह् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying बलम्)

• इव: as if
• इव: Upamāna (उपमान/comparison marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमान-अव्यय (comparative particle)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject—qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम-विशेषण (qualifying बलम्)

• बलम्: army/force
• बलम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Context

At that time Vasishta and other saints, the king and his sons held their senses under control. All others lost their consciousness.

Characters & Entities

• sun (sūrya)
• directions/quarters (diś)
• army (bala)

FAQs

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

Inner clarity against outer darkness: dharma calls for steadiness and discernment even when fear and confusion spread through the crowd.

What is the narrative situation?

The environment turns unnatural—darkness, loss of direction, ash—signaling an extraordinary presence about to appear.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The contrast prepares for leadership under crisis: those with training (king, sages) must not succumb to collective panic.