Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 52, Shloka 102

गङ्गातरणम्, सुमन्त्र-प्रतिनिवर्तनम्, जटाधारणम्

Crossing the Gaṅgā; Sumantra’s Return; Adoption of Ascetic Signs

Devanagari script

तौ तत्र हत्वा चतुरो महामृगान्वराहमृश्यं पृषतं महारुरुम्।आदाय मेध्यं त्वरितं बुभुक्षितौवासाय काले ययतुर्वनस्पतिम्।।2.52.102।।

Transliteration

tau tatra hatvā caturo mahāmṛgān varāham ṛśyaṃ pṛṣataṃ mahārurum | ādāya medhyaṃ tvaritaṃ bubhukṣitau vāsāya kāle yayatur vanaspatim ||

Translation

There, being hungry, the two killed four great beasts—a boar, an ṛśya-antelope, a spotted deer, and a great ruru deer. Taking the pure meat quickly, they went by evening to a tree for their night’s lodging.

Word by Word

• tau: those two (Rama and Lakshmana)
• tau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Dual (द्विवचन)

• tatra: there
• tatra: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देशाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (देशवाचक अव्यय)

• hatvā: having killed
• hatvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √han (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त), ‘having killed’

• caturaḥ: four
• caturaḥ: Karma (कर्म) (as qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: catur (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन); numeral adjective qualifying 'mahāmṛgān'

• mahāmṛgān: great wild animals
• mahāmṛgān: Karma (कर्म) (object of 'hatvā')
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā-mṛga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya compound; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• varāham: a boar
• varāham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: varāha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); in apposition to 'mahāmṛgān'

• ṛśyam: a r̥śya (antelope)
• ṛśyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṛśya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); in apposition

• pṛṣatam: a spotted deer
• pṛṣatam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pṛṣata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); in apposition

• mahārurum: a great ruru deer
• mahārurum: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā-ruru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya compound; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); in apposition

• ādāya: having taken
• ādāya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√dā (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त), ‘having taken’

• medhyam: pure, fit for offering
• medhyam: Karma (कर्म) (as qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: medhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); qualifying implied 'māṃsaṃ' (meat)

• tvaritam: quickly
• tvaritam: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tvarita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adverbial accusative (क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण द्वितीया)

• bubhukṣitau: famished
• bubhukṣitau: Karta (कर्ता) (as qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √bhuj (धातु) + bubhukṣita (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Desiderative-based past participle; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Dual (द्विवचन); qualifying 'tau'

• vāsāya: for resting/dwelling
• vāsāya: Sampradāna/Prayojana (सम्प्रदान/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter (commonly m.), Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular (एकवचन); purpose

• kāle: at evening time
• kāle: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• yayatuḥ: they went/reached
• yayatuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √yā (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Dual (द्विवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• vanaspatim: a tree
• vanaspatim: Karma (कर्म) (goal of motion)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vanaspati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

Context

You have done enough. I shall now leave the chariot and walk into the great forest.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa
• Tree (vanaspati)

FAQs

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

A disciplined life in hardship: dharma in exile includes living simply, taking only what is needed, and maintaining purity/fitness (medhya) even in subsistence.

What is the narrative situation?

During their forest travel, Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa procure food and find a place to rest for the night.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Endurance and self-regulation: they adapt to forest conditions without complaint, keeping their journey steady and ordered.