Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 2, Shloka 6

द्वितीयः सर्गः — श्लोकप्रादुर्भावः

The Manifestation of the Śloka

Devanagari script

न्यस्यतां कलशस्तात दीयतां वल्कलं मम ।इदमेवावगाहिष्ये तमसातीर्थमुत्तमम् ।।1.2.6।।

Transliteration

nyasyatāṁ kalaśas tāta dīyatāṁ valkalaṁ mama |

idam evāvagāhiṣye tamasā-tīrtham uttamam ||1.2.6||

Translation

“Dear one, set down the water-pot and hand me my bark-garment. I shall bathe right here at this excellent ford of the Tamasā.”

Word by Word

• nyasyatām: let (it) be placed
• nyasyatām: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni + as (धातु)
• Form: Loṭ (लोट्, imperative), Ātmanepada; 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष) Singular; passive/impersonal sense: "let it be placed"

• kalaśaḥ: the water-pot
• kalaśaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kalaśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative Singular; subject of nyasyatām

• tāta: dear one
• tāta: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tāta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative Singular

• dīyatām: let (it) be given
• dīyatām: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dā (धातु)
• Form: Loṭ (लोट्, imperative), Ātmanepada; 3rd person Singular; passive/impersonal: "let it be given"

• valkalam: bark-garment
• valkalam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: valkala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative Singular; subject of dīyatām (passive)

• mama: to me / my
• mama: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma; Genitive (षष्ठी) Singular

• idam: this
• idam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma; Neuter, Accusative Singular; object of avagāhiṣye

• eva: indeed/just
• eva: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; particle (निपात)

• avagāhiṣye: I shall enter/bathe
• avagāhiṣye: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ava + gāh (धातु)
• Form: Luṭ (लुट्, periphrastic future) / simple future sense; Ātmanepada; 1st person (उत्तमपुरुष) Singular

• tamasā-tīrtham: the ford of the Tamasā
• tamasā-tīrtham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tamasā (प्रातिपदिक) + tīrtha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (षष्ठी): tamasāyāḥ tīrtham; Neuter, Accusative Singular; in apposition to idam

• uttamam: best, excellent
• uttamam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: uttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adjective; Neuter, Accusative Singular; qualifies tīrtham

Context

"O Bharadwaja, behold the beautiful and pleasant waters of this river. This holy spot is as clear and pure as the mind of a virtuous man.

Characters & Entities

• Vālmīki
• Bharadvāja
• Tamasā (river)
• kalaśa (water-pot)
• valkala (bark garment)
• tīrtha

FAQs

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

Dharma is seen in disciplined daily conduct: orderly preparation for bathing and maintaining ascetic simplicity (valkala) reflect a life aligned with restraint and purity.

What is the narrative situation?

Vālmīki instructs his disciple to set down the water-pot and give the bark garment as he prepares to bathe at the Tamasā ford.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Simplicity and self-control: the sage’s minimal needs and composed instructions model an āśrama-based dhārmic lifestyle.