Shloka 13

तापसाश्रममण्डलदर्शनम्

Entering Dandaka and Meeting the Sages

Devanagari script

रूपसंहननं लक्ष्मीं सौकुमार्यं सुवेषताम्।ददृशुर्विस्मिताकारा रामस्य वनवासिनः।।।।

Transliteration

rūpasaṃhananaṃ lakṣmīṃ saukumāryaṃ suveṣatām | dadṛśur vismitākārā rāmasya vanavāsinaḥ ||

Translation

Les sages habitants de la forêt, saisis d’émerveillement, virent en Rāma la beauté et l’harmonie de sa forme, son éclat, sa délicatesse et sa tenue convenable, même au cœur du désert sylvestre.

Word by Word

• रूपसंहननम्: bodily form and build
• रूपसंहननम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rūpa-saṃhanana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) compound: rūpa + saṃhanana; Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• लक्ष्मीम्: splendour/beauty
• लक्ष्मीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lakṣmī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• सौकुमार्यम्: tenderness/delicacy
• सौकुमार्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saukumārya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• सुवेषताम्: fine attire/well-dressed state
• सुवेषताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: su-veṣatā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) compound: su + veṣatā; Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• ददृशुः: they saw
• ददृशुः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dṛś (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ-lakāra (लिट्; perfect), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन)

• विस्मिताकारा: wonder-struck in appearance
• विस्मिताकारा: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vismita-ākāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya (कर्मधारय) compound: vismita + ākāra; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन); qualifying 'vanavāsinaḥ'

• रामस्य: of Rama
• रामस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध; ṣaṣṭhī)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular (एकवचन)

• वनवासिनः: forest-dwellers (ascetics)
• वनवासिनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vana-vāsin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) compound: vana + vāsin; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन)

Context

Those sages living in the forest were wonder-struck to see the handsome, graceful, delicate and well-dressed Rama.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Forest sages (vanavāsinaḥ)

FAQs

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

Dharma is portrayed as an inner nobility that remains evident outwardly even in hardship: Rāma’s auspicious presence and composure shine despite forest exile.

What is the narrative situation?

The sages visually assess Rāma upon meeting him and are struck by his auspicious, refined appearance.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s dignity and self-mastery—maintaining order, propriety, and grace (maryādā) even in adversity.