Shloka 16

तापसाश्रममण्डलदर्शनम्

Entering Dandaka and Meeting the Sages

Devanagari script

ततो रामस्य सत्कृत्य विधिना पावकोपमाः।आजह्रुस्ते महाभागाः सलिलं धर्मचारिणः।।।।

Transliteration

tato rāmasya satkṛtya vidhinā pāvakopamāḥ | ājahrus te mahābhāgāḥ salilaṃ dharmacāriṇaḥ ||

Translation

Daraufhin brachten jene edlen Weisen, rein wie Feuer, nachdem sie Rāma nach rechter Sitte geehrt hatten, Wasser herbei und handelten gemäß dem Dharma.

Word by Word

• ततः: then/thereafter
• ततः: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय)
• Form: Kāla-avyaya (काल-अव्यय) adverb

• रामस्य: of Rama / for Rama
• रामस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध; ṣaṣṭhī)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular

• सत्कृत्य: having honored
• सत्कृत्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण; pūrvakāla)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sat-√kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त) from causative/compound verb satkṛ 'to honor'; 'having honored'

• विधिना: by proper rite/according to rule
• विधिना: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vidhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Singular

• पावकोपमाः: fire-like
• पावकोपमाः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pāvaka-upama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa compound: pāvaka + upama; Masculine, Nominative, Plural; qualifying subject

• आजह्रुः: they brought/offered
• आजह्रुः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √hṛ (धातु) with ā- (उपसर्ग)
• Form: Liṭ-lakāra (लिट्; perfect), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Plural

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• महाभागाः: great ones
• महाभागाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā-bhāga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• सलिलम्: water
• सलिलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: salila (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• धर्मचारिणः: followers of dharma
• धर्मचारिणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma-cārin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa compound; Masculine, Nominative, Plural; apposition to 'te mahābhāgāḥ'

Context

The great sages comparable to the fire-god and followers of righteousness honoured Rama according to tradition by offering water.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Forest sages (mahābhāgāḥ, dharmacāriṇaḥ)
• Water (salila)

FAQs

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

Dharma as practiced courtesy: hospitality is not merely emotion but an enacted code (vidhi), expressed through offering water and respectful service.

What is the narrative situation?

The sages complete customary hospitality rites for Rāma by bringing water after seating him.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The sages’ purity and disciplined righteousness—likened to fire—shown through correct, compassionate conduct.