Shloka 23

शरभङ्गाश्रमगमनम् तथा इन्द्रदर्शनम्

Approach to Sarabhanga’s Hermitage and the Vision of Indra

Devanagari script

इहोपयात्यसौ रामो यावन्मां नाभिभाषते।निष्ठां नयतु तावत्तु ततो मा द्रष्टुमर्हति।।3.5.22।।जितवन्तं कृतार्थं हि तदाहमचिरादिमम्।कर्म ह्यनेन कर्तव्यं महदन्यैस्सुदुष्करम्।।3.5.23।।

Transliteration

ihopayāty asau rāmo yāvan māṃ nābhibhāṣate |

niṣṭhāṃ nayatu tāvat tu tato mā draṣṭum arhati || 3.5.22 ||

jitavantaṃ kṛtārthaṃ hi tadāham acirād imam |

karma hy anena kartavyaṃ mahad anyaiḥ suduṣkaram || 3.5.23 ||

Translation

“Rāma is coming here. Before he addresses me, take me away to a place from which he should not see me. Later, when he has soon accomplished his purpose and stands victorious, I shall see him—for a great deed yet remains for him to do, exceedingly hard for others.”

Word by Word

• जितवन्तम्: victorious
• जितवन्तम्: विशेषण (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जितवत् (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √जि (धातु) + क्तवत्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; क्तवत्-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृत् (past active participle)

• कृतार्थम्: having accomplished the purpose
• कृतार्थम्: विशेषण (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृतार्थ (प्रातिपदिक; कृत + अर्थ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (कृतः अर्थः यस्य = one whose purpose is accomplished)

• हि: indeed
• हि: सम्बन्धसूचक निपात
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), हेतौ/निश्चये (indeed/for)

• तदा: then
• तदा: कालाधिकरण (अधिकरण/Adverbial time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: कर्ता (कर्तृ/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अचिरात्: soon
• अचिरात्: कालाधिकरण (time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अचिर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पञ्चमी-प्रयोगेण अव्ययीभाववत् कालवाचक-अव्यय (ablatival adverb): अचिरात् = in a short time/soon

• इमम्: this (one)
• इमम्: कर्म (object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• कर्म: task/deed
• कर्म: कर्ता (कर्तृ; grammatical subject of passive necessity)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• हि: indeed
• हि: सम्बन्धसूचक निपात
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), निश्चये/हेतौ

• अनेन: by him/with him
• अनेन: करण (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• कर्तव्यम्: must be done
• कर्तव्यम्: विधेय-विशेषण (predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कर्तव्य (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √कृ (धातु) + तव्यत्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive/obligatory): 'to be done'

• महत्: great
• महत्: विशेषण (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• अन्यैः: by others
• अन्यैः: कर्ता (कर्तृ; implied agent in contrast)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; 'by others'

• सुदुष्करम्: very difficult
• सुदुष्करम्: विधेय-विशेषण (predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुदुष्कर (प्रातिपदिक; सु + दुष्कर)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (सु + दुष्कर = very difficult)

Context

Then Indra (husband of Sachi) having seen Rama coming towards him, approached Sarabhanga and said this to him privately:

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Indra
• Sarabhanga

FAQs

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

Dharma as purposeful restraint: Indra avoids direct contact so Rama’s larger duty is not diverted. The verse highlights that even true and powerful beings should act in ways that protect the righteous mission.

What is the narrative situation?

Indra privately tells Sarabhanga to move him out of Rama’s sight before Rama speaks to him, because Rama must first complete a great undertaking.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Indra’s strategic foresight and non-interference—supporting dharma by not obstructing Rama’s destined work.