Shloka 2

शरभङ्गाश्रमगमनम् तथा इन्द्रदर्शनम्

Approach to Sarabhanga’s Hermitage and the Vision of Indra

Devanagari script

कष्टं वनमिदं दुर्गं न च स्म वनगोचराः।।3.5.2।।अभिगच्छामहे शीघ्रं शरभङ्गं तपोधनम्।

Transliteration

kaṣṭaṃ vanam idaṃ durgaṃ na ca sma vanagocarāḥ || 3.5.2 ||

abhigacchāmahe śīghraṃ śarabhaṅgaṃ tapodhanam |

Translation

Dieser Wald ist hart und schwer zu durchqueren, und wir sind es nicht gewohnt, in solcher Wildnis zu wandeln. Lasst uns rasch zu Śarabhaṅga gehen, dem Weisen, reich an Askese.

Word by Word

• कष्टम्: difficult, hard
• कष्टम्: Karma (कर्म) / Predicate complement (विशेषण-भाव)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कष्ट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति (Nom/Acc), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषणम् (adjective) to वनम्

• वनम्: forest
• वनम्: Karma (कर्म) / Topic (विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति (Nom/Acc), एकवचन (Singular)

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of वनम्
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति (Nom/Acc), एकवचन (Singular); सर्वनाम (pronoun) used adjectivally with वनम्

• दुर्गम्: inaccessible, hard to traverse
• दुर्गम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of वनम्
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति (Nom/Acc), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषणम् to वनम्

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध) / Negation marker
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध) / Connector
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• स्म: indeed, (emphatic particle)
• स्म: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध) / Discourse particle
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्म (अव्यय)
• Form: स्म-प्रयोगः (particle indicating recollection/emphasis; often with past sense or assertion)

• वनगोचराः: forest-goers; those familiar with the forest
• वनगोचराः: Karta (कर्ता) (implied with 'we are not')
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन + गोचर (प्रातिपदिक); वन (forest) + गोचर (range/going) (समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (genitive determinative): 'वनस्य गोचराः' = those whose range is the forest

• अभिगच्छामहे: we go/approach
• अभिगच्छामहे: Kriyā (क्रिया) / Main verb
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि + गम् (धातु) (गच्छ्-आदेशः)
• Form: लट् लकार (Present), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), बहुवचन (Plural); आत्मनेपदम् (Ātmanepada)

• शीघ्रम्: quickly
• शीघ्रम्: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: शीघ्र (प्रातिपदिक) (अव्ययीभावे प्रयोगः)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb of manner/speed)

• शरभङ्गम्: Śarabhaṅga
• शरभङ्गम्: Karma (कर्म) (object of अभिगच्छामहे)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरभङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक) (नाम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• तपोधनम्: the ascetic whose wealth is penance
• तपोधनम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of शरभङ्गम्
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तपस् + धन (प्रातिपदिक); तपस् (austerity) + धन (wealth) (समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); कर्मधारयः: 'तपः एव धनं यस्य' (one whose wealth is austerity), used as epithet of शरभङ्गम्

Context

Here comes Rama. Before he talks to me, take me to some other place from where he may not be able to see me. He has to do a great task which is difficult for others. I can see him when he accomplishes the taste and emerges victorious.

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Lakshmana
• Sarabhanga
• Forest (Vana)

FAQs

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

Dharma as humility and seeking right counsel: recognizing one’s limits and approaching a realized sage is presented as the righteous way to navigate danger and uncertainty.

What is the narrative situation?

In the difficult forest, Rama proposes that they proceed swiftly to the sage Sarabhanga for guidance and refuge.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Humility and respect for spiritual authority—Rama values ascetic wisdom while fulfilling his worldly duty.