Shloka 9

पञ्चवटी-निवासः

Settlement at Pañcavaṭī and Construction of the Hermitage

Devanagari script

स तं रुचिरमाक्रम्य देशमाश्रमकर्मणि।हस्तौ गृहीत्वा हस्तेन रामस्सौमित्रिमब्रवीत्।।।।

Transliteration

sa taṃ ruciram ākramya deśam āśrama-karmaṇi |

hastau gṛhītvā hastena rāmaḥ saumitrim abravīt ||

Translation

Having reached that lovely spot suited for establishing a hermitage, Rāma took Saumitri (Lakṣmaṇa) by both hands in his own and spoke to him.

Word by Word

• अयम्: this
• अयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• देशः: place
• देशः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सम-श्रीमान्: level and splendid
• सम-श्रीमान्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sama (प्रातिपदिक) + śrīmat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् देशः; समासः: समश्च श्रीमान् च (even and splendid)

• पुष्पितैः: flowering
• पुष्पितैः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: puṣpita (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् तरुभिः

• तरुभिः: by trees
• तरुभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: taru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• वृतः: surrounded
• वृतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vṛ (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; देशः (subject)

• इह: here
• इह: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb); देशवाचक (here)

• आश्रम-पदम्: hermitage-site
• आश्रम-पदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āśrama (प्रातिपदिक) + pada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः: आश्रमस्य पदम्/स्थानम् (site for a hermitage)

• सौम्य: O gentle one
• सौम्य: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saumya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• यथावत्: properly
• यथावत्: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathāvat (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb); यथान्यायम्/सम्यक् (properly)

• कर्तुम्: to make/build
• कर्तुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (infinitive); अर्थः: कर्तुं (to do/make)

• अर्हसि: you should/are fit to
• अर्हसि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: arh (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, मध्यम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; अर्थः: योग्यः असि (you ought/are fit)

Context

O Rama, I shall be dependent on you, even if I live for a hundred years. You only need to indicate a beautiful place of your choice.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa (Saumitri)
• āśrama (hermitage)

FAQs

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

Dharma is humane leadership: Rāma’s guidance is joined with affection and respect, not mere command—duty tempered by compassion.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa arrive at the chosen site to begin building the hermitage; Rāma physically reassures Lakṣmaṇa and begins instructing him.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s warmth and fraternal care while carrying out the disciplined life of exile.