Shloka 39

ऋक्षबिलप्रवेशः

Entry into the Rikshabilam Cave

Devanagari script

तां दृष्ट्वा भृशसन्त्रस्ताश्चीरकृष्णाजिनाम्बराम्।।।।तापसीं नियताहारां ज्वलन्तीमिव तेजसा।

Transliteration

tāṃ dṛṣṭvā bhṛśa-santastāś cīra-kṛṣṇājināmbarām | tāpasīṃ niyatāhārāṃ jvalantīm iva tejasā ||

Translation

Als sie sie sahen—eine Asketin in Rindenkleidern und schwarzem Antilopenfell, maßvoll in der Nahrung und gleichsam von geistigem Glanz lodernd—wurden die Vanaras von großer Furcht ergriffen.

Word by Word

• ताम्: her
• ताम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: पूर्वक्रिया (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दृश् (धातु) + त्वा (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund/absolutive), पूर्वकाल (having done earlier)

• भृश-सन्त्रस्ताः: greatly frightened
• भृश-सन्त्रस्ताः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भृश (अव्यय) + सम्-√त्रस् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: ‘सन्त्रस्त’ PPP; पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘भृश’ क्रियाविशेषण-उपपद (very)

• चीर-कृष्णाजिन-अम्बराम्: wearing bark-cloth and black antelope-skin as garments
• चीर-कृष्णाजिन-अम्बराम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चीर (प्रातिपदिक) + कृष्णाजिन (प्रातिपदिक) + अम्बर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास (चीरं च कृष्णाजिनं च), ततः ‘अम्बर’ इति तत्पुरुष/कर्मधारयार्थेन ‘चीरकृष्णाजिनरूपम् अम्बरम् यस्याः’; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘तापसीम्’ विशेषयति

• तापसीम्: female ascetic
• तापसीम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तापसी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• नियत-आहाराम्: of regulated diet
• नियत-आहाराम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नियत (प्रातिपदिक) + आहार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (कर्मधारयार्थ: ‘नियतोऽऽहारः यस्याः’), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘तापसीम्’ विशेषयति

• ज्वलन्तीम्: glowing
• ज्वलन्तीम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √ज्वल् (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त (present active participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘तापसीम्’ विशेषयति

• इव: as if
• इव: उपमान (Simile marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, उपमार्थक-निपात (particle of comparison: as if/like)

• तेजसा: with radiance
• तेजसा: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तेजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

Context

Then Hanuman who was of the size of a mountain greeted the old lady with folded hands and enquired her 'Who are you? To whom does this mansion, this cave and these gems belong?'ইত্যার্ষে শ্রীমদ্রামাযণে বাল্মীকীয আদিকাব্যে কিষ্কিন্ধাকাণ্ডে পঞ্চাশস্সর্গঃ৷৷Thus ends of fiftieth sarga in Kishkindakanda of the first epic of the Holy Ramayana composed by sage Valmiki.

Characters & Entities

• vānaras (search party)
• tāpasī (female ascetic)
• cīra (bark garment)

FAQs

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

Dharma includes honoring tapas (austerity) and spiritual power: the ascetic’s disciplined life commands reverence and careful behavior from those who encounter her.

What is the narrative situation?

The search party realizes the woman is a formidable ascetic, radiant with tejas, and they react with fear and awe.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Reverential fear (bhaya mixed with respect)—recognizing spiritual authority and not treating it casually.