Valmiki Ramayana 2.46.1 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 46, Shloka 1

तमसातीरवासः

Night on the Bank of the Tamasa and the Stratagem to Elude the Citizens

Devanagari script

ततस्तु तमसातीरं रम्यमाश्रित्य राघवः।सीतामुद्वीक्ष्य सौमित्रिमिदं वचनमब्रवीत्।।2.46.1।।

Transliteration

tatas tu tamasā-tīraṃ ramyam āśritya rāghavaḥ |

sītām udvīkṣya saumitrim idaṃ vacanam abravīt ||

Translation

Daraufhin nahm Rāghava (Rāma) Zuflucht am lieblichen Ufer der Tamasā, blickte zu Sītā und sprach dann diese Worte zu Saumitri (Lakṣmaṇa).

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; temporal adverb

• tu: but/indeed
• tu: Sambandha-bodhaka (particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; conjunction/particle (contrast/emphasis)

• tamasā-tīram: the bank of the Tamasā
• tamasā-tīram: Karma (कर्म/Object) of āśritya
• Type: Noun
• Root: tamasā (प्रातिपदिक) + tīra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसakaliṅga (Neuter), Dvitīyā (Accusative/2nd), Ekavacana (Singular); samāsa: tamasāyāḥ tīram (bank of Tamasā)

• ramyam: lovely
• ramyam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ramya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसakaliṅga (Neuter), Dvitīyā (Accusative/2nd), Ekavacana (Singular); agrees with tamasātīram

• āśritya: having reached/taken refuge
• āśritya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā√śri (धातु)
• Form: Ktvānta (absolutive/gerund) indeclinable; 'having resorted to/taken refuge at'

• rāghavaḥ: Rāghava (Rama)
• rāghavaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāghava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine), Prathamā (Nominative/1st), Ekavacana (Singular)

• sītām: Sītā
• sītām: Karma (कर्म/Object) of udvīkṣya
• Type: Noun
• Root: sītā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (Feminine), Dvitīyā (Accusative/2nd), Ekavacana (Singular)

• udvīkṣya: having looked at
• udvīkṣya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ud√īkṣ (धातु)
• Form: Ktvānta (absolutive/gerund) indeclinable; 'having looked at'

• saumitrim: Saumitri (Lakṣmaṇa)
• saumitrim: Karma (कर्म/Object) (addressee as object of speech)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saumitri (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine), Dvitīyā (Accusative/2nd), Ekavacana (Singular)

• idam: this
• idam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of vacanam
• Type: Adjective
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma used adjectivally; Napuṃsakaliṅga (Neuter), Dvitīyā (Accusative/2nd), Ekavacana (Singular); agrees with vacanam

• vacanam: words/speech
• vacanam: Karma (कर्म/Object) of abravīt
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga (Neuter), Dvitīyā (Accusative/2nd), Ekavacana (Singular)

• abravīt: said
• abravīt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √brū (धातु)
• Form: Luṅ lakāra (Aorist), Prathama puruṣa (3rd person), Ekavacana (Singular), Parasmaipada

Context

The scion of the Raghus (Rama), having taken shelter on the lovely bank of Tamasa, glanced at Sita and said to Lakshmana thus:

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Sītā
• Lakṣmaṇa (Saumitra)
• Tamasā (river)

FAQs

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

Dharma is lived through orderly conduct in hardship: Rāma establishes calm, deliberate communication and shared responsibility at the outset of exile.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma, Sītā, and Lakṣmaṇa reach the Tamasā riverbank and pause; Rāma prepares to instruct Lakṣmaṇa.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Composure and leadership: Rāma remains attentive to companions while making practical decisions.