Shloka 9

पञ्चाप्सरो-सरः कथनम् तथा अगस्त्याश्रममार्गनिर्देशः

Panchapsara Lake Account and Directions to Agastya

Devanagari script

इदमत्यद्भुतं श्रुत्वा सर्वेषां नो महामुने।कौतूहलं महज्जातं किमिदं साधु कथ्यताम्।।।।वक्तव्यं यदि चेदविप्र नातिगुह्यमपि प्रभो।

Transliteration

idam atyadbhutaṃ śrutvā sarveṣāṃ no mahāmune | kautūhalaṃ mahaj jātaṃ kim idaṃ sādhu kathyatām || vaktavyaṃ yadi ced avipra nātiguhyam api prabho |

Translation

O großer Weiser, als wir dies höchst Wunderbare vernahmen, ist in uns allen große Neugier erwacht. Was ist das? Erkläre es deutlich. Wenn es nicht allzu geheim ist, o ehrwürdiger Brāhmaṇa, sprich, o Herr.

Word by Word

• तेन: by him
• तेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, तृतीया, एकवचन; Pronoun, Instrumental singular

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकार-अव्यय; adverb ‘thus/in this way’

• उक्तः: addressed
• उक्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वच् (धातु) > उक्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Masculine Nominative singular; passive sense ‘having been addressed’

• धर्मात्मा: the righteous one
• धर्मात्मा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Masculine Nominative singular; (धर्मः आत्मा यस्य = righteous-souled)

• राघवेण: by Rāghava (Rama)
• राघवेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राघव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; Masculine Instrumental singular

• मुनिः: the sage
• मुनिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Masculine Nominative singular

• तदा: then
• तदा: Kala-adhikarana (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: काल-अव्यय; ‘then’

• प्रभवम्: origin
• प्रभवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; Masculine Accusative singular

• सरसः: of the lake
• सरसः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; Neuter Genitive singular

• कृत्स्नम्: entire
• कृत्स्नम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत्स्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; Masculine Accusative singular; qualifying ‘प्रभवम्’

• आख्यातुम्: to narrate
• आख्यातुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आ + ख्या (धातु) > आख्यातुम् (कृदन्त)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive)

• उपचक्रमे: began
• उपचक्रमे: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप + क्रम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; Perfect, 3rd person singular

Context

O great sage, this very wonderful sound, has whetted our great curiosity. If there is no top secret about this, do disclose it.

Characters & Entities

• Mahāmuni (great sage)
• Vipra (brāhmaṇa sage)

FAQs

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

Dharma values truth-seeking through respectful questioning: one asks with humility, and requests disclosure only if it is proper and not harmful/secret.

What is the narrative situation?

Rama (with companions) hears something extraordinary and requests a sage to explain it, acknowledging that some matters may be confidential.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Courtesy and restraint in speech: the question is earnest yet bounded by respect for secrecy and propriety.