Shloka 3.11.9

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

Devanagari script

इदमत्यद्भुतं श्रुत्वा सर्वेषां नो महामुने।कौतूहलं महज्जातं किमिदं साधु कथ्यताम्।।।।वक्तव्यं यदि चेदविप्र नातिगुह्यमपि प्रभो।

Transliteration

idam atyadbhutaṃ śrutvā sarveṣāṃ no mahāmune | kautūhalaṃ mahaj jātaṃ kim idaṃ sādhu kathyatām || vaktavyaṃ yadi ced avipra nātiguhyam api prabho |

Translation

O great sage, hearing this most wondrous matter, a great curiosity has arisen in all of us. What is it? Please explain it clearly. If it is not too secret, O venerable brāhmaṇa, do tell us, O lord.

Context

O great sage, this very wonderful sound, has whetted our great curiosity. If there is no top secret about this, do disclose it.

Characters & Entities

• Mahāmuni (great sage)
• Vipra (brāhmaṇa sage)

FAQs

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

Dharma values truth-seeking through respectful questioning: one asks with humility, and requests disclosure only if it is proper and not harmful/secret.

What is the narrative situation?

Rama (with companions) hears something extraordinary and requests a sage to explain it, acknowledging that some matters may be confidential.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Courtesy and restraint in speech: the question is earnest yet bounded by respect for secrecy and propriety.