Shloka 22

हेमन्तवर्णनम् तथा भरतधर्मनिष्ठा-चिन्तनम्

Winter Description and Reflection on Bharata’s Devotion

Devanagari script

एते हि समुपासीना विहगा जलचारिणः।नावगाहन्ति सलिलमप्रगल्भा इवाहवम्।।।।

Transliteration

ete hi samupāsīnā vihagā jalacāriṇaḥ |

nāvagāhanti salilam apragalbhā ivāhavam ||

Translation

Estas aves acuáticas, aunque reunidas muy cerca, no se zambullen en el agua, como guerreros tímidos que no entran en el campo de batalla.

Word by Word

• एते: these
• एते: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• हि: indeed/for
• हि: सम्बन्ध (Discourse particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; हेत्वर्थ/निश्चयार्थक-निपात (particle: indeed/for)

• समुपासीनाः: seated nearby
• समुपासीनाः: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समुपासीन (कृदन्त; √आस् (धातु) + सम्+उप + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विहगाः इति विशेषण

• विहगाः: birds
• विहगाः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विहग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• जल-चारिणः: water-going/aquatic
• जल-चारिणः: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जल (प्रातिपदिक) + चारिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (जले चरन्ति)

• न: not
• न: सम्बन्ध (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध (negation particle)

• अवगाहन्ति: plunge/enter (into water)
• अवगाहन्ति: क्रिया (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √गाह् (धातु) (अव उपसर्ग)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• सलिलम्: water
• सलिलम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सलिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अप्रगल्भाः: timid/inexperienced
• अप्रगल्भाः: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अप्रगल्भ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विहगाः इति विशेषण

• इव: as if/like
• इव: सम्बन्ध (Comparison/उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमा-वाचक (comparative particle)

• आहवम्: battlefield
• आहवम्: उपमान (Standard of comparison/उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आहव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; उपमान (object of comparison)

Context

Just as inefficient warriors do not enter the warfield, aquatic birds sitting near water do not venture to take a plunge into it.

Characters & Entities

• water (salila)
• battlefield (āhava)

FAQs

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

It underscores courage as a dharmic necessity in one’s rightful duty: merely staying near the duty-field is not enough; one must enter and act when the moment calls.

What is the narrative situation?

Rama continues describing winter: even aquatic birds hesitate to enter the cold water, which he likens to hesitant fighters avoiding battle.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Valor and readiness—especially associated with kṣatriya-dharma (the duty to face challenges directly).