Valmiki Ramayana 2.46.17 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 46, Shloka 17

तमसातीरवासः

Night on the Bank of the Tamasa and the Stratagem to Elude the Citizens

Devanagari script

गोकुलाकुलतीरायास्तमसाया विदूरतः।अवसत्तत्र तां रात्रिं रामः प्रकृतिभिस्सह।।2.46.17।।

Transliteration

gokulākula-tīrāyās tamasāyā vidūrataḥ | avasat tatra tāṁ rātriṁ rāmaḥ prakṛtibhiḥ saha ||2.46.17||

Translation

Not far from the Tamasa’s bank, crowded with herds of cattle, Rama spent that night there together with his people.

Word by Word

• गोकुलाकुलतीरायाः: of the bank crowded with cattle-herds
• गोकुलाकुलतीरायाः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध; qualifies तमसायाः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोकुल + आकुल + तीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग; कर्मधारय-समास: गोकुलैः आकुलं तीरम् = ‘bank crowded with cattle-herds’

• तमसायाः: of (the river) Tamasa
• तमसायाः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तमसा (प्रातिपदिक; नदी-नाम)
• Form: षष्ठी विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन, स्त्रीलिङ्ग

• विदूरतः: not far away
• विदूरतः: Desha-adhikarana (देशाधिकरण/distance)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विदूरतः (अव्यय; from विदूर)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of place/distance)

• अवसत्: stayed, dwelt
• अवसत्: Kriya (क्रिया/predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वस् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Desha-adhikarana (देशाधिकरण/location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb: there)

• ताम्: that
• ताम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifies रात्रिम्)

• रात्रिम्: night
• रात्रिम्: Kala-adhikarana (कालाधिकरण; duration)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रात्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• रामः: Rama
• रामः: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग

• प्रकृतिभिः: with the followers/subjects
• प्रकृतिभिः: Sahakari (सहकारी/accompaniment)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रकृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental), बहुवचन, स्त्रीलिङ्ग; ‘with the attendants/subjects’

• सह: with
• सह: Sahartha (सहार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह (अव्यय)
• Form: सह-योगार्थक-अव्यय (together with)

Context

Rama spent the night with his subjects not very far from the bank of Tamasa which was crowded with herds of cattle.

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Tamasa (river)

FAQs

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

Dharma of leadership and mutual loyalty: even in exile, Rama remains bound to his people, and they remain bound to him—highlighting the ethical ties between ruler and subjects.

What is the narrative situation?

Rama halts for the night near the Tamasa; many followers (subjects) remain with him nearby.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Compassionate kingship: Rama’s continued closeness to his people despite personal loss.