Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 23, Shloka 21

कामाश्रम

प्रवेशः / Entry into Kāma’s Hermitage at the Sarayū–Gaṅgā Confluence

Devanagari script

तत्र वासिभिरानीता मुनिभिस्सुव्रतै: सह।न्यवसन् सुसुखं तत्र कामाश्रमपदे तदा।।।।

Transliteration

tatra vāsibhir ānītā munibhiḥ suvrataiḥ saha |

nyavasan susukhaṃ tatra kāmāśramapade tadā ||

Translation

Dort, von den Bewohnern herbeigeführt und begleitet von den Weisen, die ihren Gelübden treu waren, verweilten sie überaus glücklich an jenem Ort, der Stätte des Āśrama des Kāma.

Word by Word

• tatra: there
• tatra: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देशाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb of place (देशवाचक)

• vāsibhiḥ: by the residents/dwellers
• vāsibhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāsin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Bahuvacana

• ānītāḥ: (having been) brought
• ānītāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ā-√nī (नी) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त); Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; agreeing with implied subject (Rāma-Lakṣmaṇa etc.)

• munibhiḥ: with/by sages
• munibhiḥ: Sahakāraka (सह/साकं)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Bahuvacana

• suvrataiḥ: of good vows/strictly vowed
• suvrataiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su-vrata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya: su + vrata; Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Bahuvacana; qualifying munibhiḥ

• saha: together with
• saha: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: saha (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; preposition-like particle expressing accompaniment (सहयोग)

• nyavasan: they dwelt/stayed
• nyavasan: Kriyā (मुख्यक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-√vas (वस्)
• Form: Laṅ lakāra, Prathama puruṣa, Bahuvacana; parasmaipada

• susukham: very happily/comfortably
• susukham: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: su-sukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyayībhāva used adverbially; manner adverb (प्रकार)

• tatra: there
• tatra: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देशाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb of place

• kāmāśramapade: in the place of Kāma’s hermitage
• kāmāśramapade: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāma-āśrama-pada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (multi-member): kāmasya āśrama-padam; Napumsaka, Saptamī vibhakti (7th/सप्तमी), Ekavacana

• tadā: then
• tadā: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb of time

Context

Exceedingly delighted to see the sacred hermitage, the two princes enquired from the illustrious sage Viswamitra:

Characters & Entities

• Kāma (as hermitage eponym)
• Munis (sages)

FAQs

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

Dharma appears as hospitality and communal care: residents and sages receive travelers properly, ensuring safe and content lodging.

What is the narrative situation?

The party is welcomed by the hermitage community and stays happily at the hermitage-site associated with Kāma.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Guest-care (ātithi-satkāra) and harmony—an āśrama community living by vows and service.