Shloka 17

पञ्चाप्सरो-सरः कथनम् तथा अगस्त्याश्रममार्गनिर्देशः

Panchapsara Lake Account and Directions to Agastya

Devanagari script

ताश्चैवाप्सरसः पञ्च मुनेः पत्नीत्वमागताः।।।।तटाके निर्मितं तासामस्मिन्नन्तर्हितं गृहम्।

Transliteration

tāś caivāpsarasaḥ pañca muneḥ patnītvam āgatāḥ |

taṭāke nirmitaṃ tāsām asminn antarhitaṃ gṛham ||

Translation

Jene fünf Apsaras wurden wahrlich zu Gemahlinnen des Muni; und für sie war in jenem See eine Wohnstatt errichtet, dem Blick verborgen.

Word by Word

• ताः: those (women)
• ताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (emphasis/indeed)

• अप्सरसः: apsarases
• अप्सरसः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: apsaras (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• पञ्च: five
• पञ्च: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pañca (अव्यय/संख्याशब्द)
• Form: संख्यावाचक (indeclinable numeral)

• मुनेः: of the sage
• मुनेः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• पत्नीत्वम्: the state of being wives
• पत्नीत्वम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: patnītva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• आगताः: attained; became
• आगताः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√gam (धातु) + kta (कृत्)
• Form: कृत्प्रत्ययान्त (past active sense participle/क्त used intransitively), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; 'came to/attained'

• तटाके: in the lake
• तटाके: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: taṭāka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/locative), एकवचन

• निर्मितम्: built
• निर्मितम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nir-√mā (धातु) + kta (कृत्)
• Form: कृत्प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle/क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (of 'gṛham')

• तासाम्: for them; of them
• तासाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन

• अस्मिन्: in this
• अस्मिन्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• अन्तर्हितम्: hidden; invisible
• अन्तर्हितम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: antar-√dhā (धातु) + kta (कृत्)
• Form: कृत्प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle/क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (of 'gṛham')

• गृहम्: a house
• गृहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gṛha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

Context

The five apsaras, got the status of wives to the sage who built them an invisible home inside the lake.

Characters & Entities

• apsarasaḥ (apsarases)
• muni (sage)
• taṭāka (lake/pond)

FAQs

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

The verse highlights a fall from ascetic dharma into domestic attachment under temptation, reminding that life-stages (āśramas) demand integrity and clarity of purpose.

What is the narrative situation?

After the sage is overcome, the apsarases become his wives and a concealed residence is established in a lake.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The implied virtue is steadfastness to one’s vow (vrata) and chosen discipline; the episode shows its erosion through indulgence.