Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 23, Shloka 23

कामाश्रम

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

Devanagari script

तौ प्रयातौ महावीर्यौ दिव्यां त्रिपथगां नदीम्।

ददृशाते ततस्तत्र सरय्वास्सङ्गमे शुभे।।

Transliteration

tau prayātau mahāvīryau divyāṃ tripathagāṃ nadīm |

dadṛśāte tatastatra sarayvāḥ saṅgame śubhe ||

Translation

Als sie noch ein wenig weiterzogen, erblickten die beiden großen Helden den göttlichen Fluss Tripathagā (Gaṅgā), dort am glückverheißenden Zusammenfluss mit der Sarayū.

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then/thereafter
• tataḥ: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb of sequence (अनन्तर)

• prabhāte: at daybreak
• prabhāte: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prabhāta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Saptamī, Ekavacana

• vimale: pure/clear
• vimale: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vimala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Saptamī, Ekavacana; qualifying prabhāte

• kṛtāhnikam: having performed the morning rites
• kṛtāhnikam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛta-āhnika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa: kṛtam āhnikam yasya (having performed daily rites); Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Dvivacana? actually agrees with arindamau (dual): Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Dvivacana (ending -am used as accusative? but here as adjective in -am for dual is nonstandard; better taken as accusative singular used adverbially ‘having done āhnika’; however common reading treats as kṛtāhnikau). Interpreted as predicate/qualifier of the two princes.

• arindamau: the two subduers of enemies
• arindamau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ari-dama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa: arīn damayataḥ (subduers of enemies); Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Dvivacana

• viśvāmitram: Viśvāmitra
• viśvāmitram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viśvāmitra (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• puraskṛtya: having placed in front/with (him) leading
• puraskṛtya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: puras-√kṛ (कृ) + lyap (ल्यप्)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यबन्त); ‘having placed in front/leading’

• nadyāḥ: of the river
• nadyāḥ: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nadī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, Ekavacana

• tīram: bank/shore
• tīram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tīra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• upāgatau: the two arrived
• upāgatau: Kriyā (मुख्यक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: upa-√gam (गम्)
• Form: Liṭ lakāra (लिट्, perfect), Prathama puruṣa, Dvivacana; parasmaipada

Characters & Entities

• Gaṅgā (Tripathagā)
• Sarayū
• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa

FAQs

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

Dharma is supported by reverence for sacred places—recognizing holy geography as a setting that elevates conduct and intention.

What is the narrative situation?

While traveling with Viśvāmitra, the princes reach and observe the sacred confluence of Sarayū and Gaṅgā.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Attentiveness and reverence—seeing the land as charged with spiritual meaning, not merely as terrain.