Shloka 3.11.6

पञ्चाप्सरो-सरः कथनम् तथा अगस्त्याश्रममार्गनिर्देशः (Panchapsara Lake Account and Directions to Agastya)

Devanagari script

ते गत्वा दूरमध्वानं लम्बमाने दिवाकरे।ददृशुस्सहिता रम्यं तटाकं योजनायतम्।।3.11.5।।पद्मपुष्करसम्बाधं गजयूथैरलङ्कृतम्।सारसैर्हंसकादम्बैस्सङ्कुलं जलचारिभिः।।3.11.6।।

Transliteration

padmapuṣkarasambādhaṃ gajayūthair alaṅkṛtam | sārasair haṃsakādambaiḥ saṅkulaṃ jalacāribhiḥ || 3.11.6 ||

Translation

They beheld a delightful lake crowded with lotuses and lilies, adorned by herds of elephants, and teeming with cranes, swans, and other aquatic creatures.

Context

As the Sun was setting, they had covered a long distance, watching a yojanalong tank adorned with lotuses, and crowded with herds of elephants and flocks of cranes, swans and aquatic animals.

Characters & Entities

• taṭāka (lake)
• gajayūtha (herds of elephants)
• padma (lotus)
• puṣkara (water-lily)
• sārasa (crane)
• haṃsa (swan)
• kādamba (waterfowl)

FAQs

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

The verse foregrounds a dhārmic sensibility of reverent attention to the natural world—seeing forests and waters not as mere resources but as living, ordered spaces that sustain many beings.

What is the narrative situation?

During their forest journey, the group comes upon a beautiful lake landscape filled with lotuses, birds, and elephants, marking a calm interlude in the wilderness.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Mindful restraint and appreciative awareness—qualities that support dharma in exile by keeping the mind steady, observant, and non-violent amid the forest’s uncertainties.