Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 23, Shloka 6

कामाश्रम

प्रवेशः / Entry into Kāma’s Hermitage at the Sarayū–Gaṅgā Confluence

Devanagari script

तत्राश्रमपदं पुण्यमृषीणामग्य्रतेजसाम् ।बहुवर्षसहस्राणि तप्यतां परमं तप:।।।।

Transliteration

tatrāśramapadaṃ puṇyam ṛṣīṇām agryatejasām |

bahuvarṣasahasrāṇi tapyatāṃ paramaṃ tapaḥ ||

Translation

Allí vieron un sagrado recinto de ermita de ṛṣis de suprema luz espiritual, que durante muchos miles de años habían practicado la más alta austeridad.

Word by Word

• tam: that
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga; Dvitīyā-vibhakti (Accusative), Ekavacana; refers to āśramam

• dṛṣṭvā: having seen
• dṛṣṭvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: √dṛś (धातु) → dṛṣṭvā (क्त्वान्त)
• Form: Absolutive (Gerund/क्त्वा)

• parama-prītau: exceedingly delighted
• parama-prītau: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक) + prīta (कृदन्त, क्त; √prī)
• Form: Puṃliṅga; Prathamā-vibhakti, Dvivacana; कर्मधारयः (paramā prītiḥ yayor) = exceedingly pleased

• rāghavau: the two Rāghavas
• rāghavau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāghava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga; Prathamā-vibhakti, Dvivacana

• puṇyam: sacred
• puṇyam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: puṇya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga; Dvitīyā-vibhakti, Ekavacana; qualifies āśramam

• āśramam: hermitage
• āśramam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āśrama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga; Dvitīyā-vibhakti (Accusative), Ekavacana

• ūcatuḥ: said
• ūcatuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ-lakāra (Perfect); Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Dvivacana; Parasmaipada

• tam: to him
• tam: Karma (कर्म / Addressee)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga; Dvitīyā-vibhakti, Ekavacana; refers to viśvāmitram

• mahātmānam: the great-souled one
• mahātmānam: Karma (कर्म / Apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga; Dvitīyā-vibhakti, Ekavacana; epithet in apposition

• viśvāmitram: Viśvāmitra
• viśvāmitram: Karma (कर्म / Addressee)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viśvāmitra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga; Dvitīyā-vibhakti, Ekavacana

• idam: this
• idam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुṃsaka; Dvitīyā-vibhakti, Ekavacana; qualifies vacaḥ

• vacaḥ: speech/words
• vacaḥ: Karma (कर्म / Object spoken)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुṃsaka; Dvitīyā-vibhakti, Ekavacana

Context

On hearing the very affectionate call of Viswamitra both the brave princes had their bath and offered oblations to Sun-god (standing in the water) and recited the holy name of the Lord.

Characters & Entities

• Āśrama (hermitage-site)
• Ṛṣis (ascetics/seers)

FAQs

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

Dharma is upheld through tapas—long, steady self-restraint and inner discipline that sustains sacred spaces and spiritual authority.

What is the narrative situation?

The travelers encounter an ancient hermitage where powerful sages have practiced austerities for ages.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Respect for ascetic effort and recognition of spiritual merit (tejas) earned by endurance.