Shloka 22

चित्रकूटगमनम् तथा पर्णशालाप्रवेशः

Arrival at Chitrakuta and Establishing the Leaf-Hut

Devanagari script

ऐणेयं मांसमाहृत्य शालां यक्ष्यामहे वयम्।कर्तव्यं वास्तुशमनं सौमित्रे चिरजीविभिः।।।।

Transliteration

aiṇeyaṃ māṃsam āhṛtya śālāṃ yakṣyāmahe vayam | kartavyaṃ vāstuśamanaṃ saumitre cirajīvibhiḥ ||

Translation

O Lakṣmaṇa, wenn wir hier lange wohnen sollen, müssen wir zuerst den Geist besänftigen, der über diese Wohnstatt wacht; darum werden wir Fleisch der schwarzen Antilope herbeibringen und das gebührende Opfer für diese Hütte darbringen.

Word by Word

• ऐणेयम्: of black antelope
• ऐणेयम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ऐणेय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचन; ‘मांसम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• मांसम्: meat
• मांसम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मांस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचन

• आहृत्य: having brought
• आहृत्य: Kriya (क्रिया/पूर्वकर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-हृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive); अव्ययभाव; ‘having brought’

• शालाम्: hut
• शालाम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शाला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचन

• यक्ष्यामहे: we shall worship/sacrifice
• यक्ष्यामहे: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: यज् (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future); उत्तमपुरुष (1st); बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद

• वयम्: we
• वयम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा; बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• कर्तव्यम्: to be done / should be done
• कर्तव्यम्: Kriya (क्रिया/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive/obligatory); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन; विधेयविशेषणम्

• वास्तुशमनम्: pacification rite for the dwelling
• वास्तुशमनम्: Karta (कर्ता/विधेय-नाम)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वास्तु-शमन (प्रातिपदिक); वास्तु+शमन
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः ‘वास्तोः शमनम्’

• सौमित्रे: O Saumitri
• सौमित्रे: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सौमित्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन; एकवचन

• चिरजीविभिः: by those wishing long life
• चिरजीविभिः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चिर-जीविन् (प्रातिपदिक); चिर+जीविन्
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental); बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः ‘चिरं जीवितुमिच्छन्ति’ (long-lived/long-life-seeking)

Context

O Lakshmana! those who intend to live for long (in this hut), should pacify the deity presiding over here. Therefore, we shall bring the venison of a black antelope and make necessary offerings.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa (Saumitrī)
• śālā (hut)

FAQs

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

Dharma is shown as disciplined living: before settling in a place, one follows prescribed duties (ritual propriety and respect for sacred order), rather than acting carelessly.

What is the narrative situation?

In the forest setting, Rāma instructs Lakṣmaṇa to arrange an offering connected with the hut they will inhabit, as a rite of pacification for the dwelling.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s conscientiousness and adherence to dharma—he treats even temporary forest life as governed by sacred responsibility.