Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 2, Shloka 5

द्वितीयः सर्गः — श्लोकप्रादुर्भावः

The Manifestation of the Śloka

Devanagari script

अकर्दममिदं तीर्थं भरद्वाज निशामय ।रमणीयं प्रसन्नाम्बु सन्मनुष्यमनो यथा ।।1.2.5।।

Transliteration

akardamam idaṁ tīrthaṁ bharadvāja niśāmaya |

ramaṇīyaṁ prasannāmbu sanmanuṣya-mano yathā ||1.2.5||

Translation

“Bharadvāja, look at this bathing-place—clear and free of mud, lovely, with tranquil waters—like the mind of a good person.”

Word by Word

• akardamam: mud-free, pure
• akardamam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a- (नञ्) + kardama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adjective; Neuter, Nominative/Accusative Singular; qualifies tīrtham

• idam: this
• idam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma; Neuter, Nominative/Accusative Singular; deictic pronoun

• tīrtham: bathing-place/ford
• tīrtham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tīrtha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative Singular; object of niśāmaya (understood)

• bharadvāja: O Bharadvāja
• bharadvāja: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bharadvāja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (सम्बोधन) Singular

• niśāmaya: behold, observe
• niśāmaya: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni + śam (धातु)
• Form: Loṭ (लोट्, imperative), Parasmaipada; 2nd person (मध्यमपुरुष) Singular

• ramaṇīyam: beautiful, delightful
• ramaṇīyam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ramaṇīya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adjective; Neuter, Nominative/Accusative Singular; qualifies tīrtham

• prasanna-ambu: with clear/pleasant water
• prasanna-ambu: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prasanna (प्रातिपदिक) + ambu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya: prasannam ambu yasya/tat; here as adjective to tīrtham; Neuter, Nominative/Accusative Singular (as a compound adjective)

• sanmanuṣya-manaḥ: the mind of a virtuous man
• sanmanuṣya-manaḥ: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sat (प्रातिपदिक) + manuṣya (प्रातिपदिक) + manas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (कर्मधारय/षष्ठी sense): san manuṣyaḥ (good man) + manaḥ (mind) = "mind of a good man"; Neuter, Nominative/Accusative Singular

• yathā: as, like
• yathā: Upamā-dyotaka (उपमा-द्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; comparative particle (उपमा-प्रदर्शक)

Characters & Entities

• Vālmīki
• Bharadvāja
• Tamasā (implied context)
• tīrtha

FAQs

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

Dharma is associated with inner purity mirrored by outer clarity: the calm, clean water becomes a metaphor for a virtuous mind—transparent, untroubled, and unsullied.

What is the narrative situation?

At the Tamasā river, Vālmīki points out a beautiful, clear bathing-place to his disciple Bharadvāja.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Śauca (purity) and serenity: the verse praises qualities—clarity and calm—that are central to a dhārmic life.