Shloka 23

Devanagari script

पारिप्लवशतैर्जुष्टा बर्हिक्रौञ्चविनादिता।रमणीया नदी सौम्य मुनिसङ्घैर्निषेविता4.27.23।।

Transliteration

pāriplavaśatair juṣṭā barhikrauñcavināditā |

ramaṇīyā nadī saumya munisaṅghair niṣevitā || 4.27.23 ||

Translation

يا لطيفَ الطبع، إنّ هذا النهرَ الجميل مأوىً محبوبٌ لمئاتٍ من طيور الماء، يرنّ بأصوات الطواويس وطيور الكراونتش، وتؤمّه جماعاتُ الحكماء والريشيّين.

Word by Word

• pāriplava-śataiḥ: with hundreds of water-birds
• pāriplava-śataiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāriplava (प्रातिपदिक) + śata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसakaliṅga (n.)/Puṃliṅga (m.) as count; Tṛtīyā-vibhakti (Instr. 3), Bahuvacana; tatpuruṣa: 'by hundreds of water-birds'

• juṣṭā: frequented, favored
• juṣṭā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: juṣṭa (कृदन्त; √juṣ धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Strīliṅga (f.), Prathamā-vibhakti (Nom. 1), Ekavacana; agrees with nadī

• barhi-krauñca-vināditā: resounding with peacocks and krauñcas
• barhi-krauñca-vināditā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: barhin (प्रातिपदिक) + krauñca (प्रातिपदिक) + vi-nādita (कृदन्त; √nad धातु)
• Form: Strīliṅga (f.), Prathamā-vibhakti (Nom. 1), Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: 'resounding with peacocks and krauñca birds'; agrees with nadī

• ramaṇīyā: beautiful
• ramaṇīyā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ramaṇīya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (f.), Prathamā-vibhakti (Nom. 1), Ekavacana; qualifies nadī

• nadī: river
• nadī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nadī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (f.), Prathamā-vibhakti (Nom. 1), Ekavacana

• saumya: O gentle one
• saumya: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saumya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (m.), Sambodhana (Vocative), Ekavacana; संबोधन to listener

• muni-saṅghaiḥ: by groups of sages
• muni-saṅghaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (प्रातिपदिक) + saṅgha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (m.), Tṛtīyā-vibhakti (Instr. 3), Bahuvacana; tatpuruṣa: 'groups of sages'

• niṣevitā: inhabited, resorted to
• niṣevitā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ni-ṣevita (कृदन्त; √sev धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Strīliṅga (f.), Prathamā-vibhakti (Nom. 1), Ekavacana; agrees with nadī

Context

'This placid river water is haunted by waterbirds, peacocks and kraunchas, It is inhabited by groups of sages.

Characters & Entities

• River (unnamed)
• sages (muni-saṅgha)
• peacocks (barhi)
• krauñca birds

FAQs

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

Respect for sacred spaces: the river’s beauty is inseparable from its association with sages, implying dharma as harmony with nature and reverence for ascetic life.

What is the narrative situation?

Rama, traveling with Lakshmana near Kiṣkindhā, points out the serene landscape and its signs of sanctity (birds and sages).

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rama’s sensitivity and discernment—he perceives spiritual value in the environment, not merely physical beauty.