Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 23, Shloka 5

कामाश्रम

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

Devanagari script

तौ प्रयातौ महावीर्यौ दिव्यां त्रिपथगां नदीम्।ददृशाते ततस्तत्र सरय्वास्सङ्गमे शुभे।।।।

Transliteration

tau prayātau mahāvīryau divyāṃ tripathagāṃ nadīm |

dadṛśāte tatastatra sarayvāḥ saṅgame śubhe ||

Translation

Poursuivant encore un peu leur route, les deux grands héros virent le fleuve divin Tripathagā (la Gaṅgā), là, au saint confluent avec la Sarayū, de bon augure.

Word by Word

• tatra: there
• tatra: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देश-अधिकरणम्)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; place adverb

• āśrama-padam: the hermitage-site
• āśrama-padam: Karta (कर्ता / Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āśrama (प्रातिपदिक) + pada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुṃsaka; Prathamā-vibhakti, Ekavacana; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (āśramasya padam)

• puṇyam: sacred
• puṇyam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: puṇya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुṃsaka; Prathamā-vibhakti, Ekavacana; qualifies āśramapadam

• ṛṣīṇām: of sages
• ṛṣīṇām: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṛṣi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga; Ṣaṣṭhī-vibhakti (Genitive), Bahuvacana (Plural)

• agrya-tejasām: of those of foremost splendor
• agrya-tejasām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: agrya (प्रातिपदिक) + tejas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga; Ṣaṣṭhī-vibhakti, Bahuvacana; कर्मधारयः (agryaṃ tejaḥ yeṣām) used as genitive plural qualifier of ṛṣīṇām

• bahu-varṣa-sahasrāṇi: for many thousands of years
• bahu-varṣa-sahasrāṇi: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरणम् / Duration)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bahu (प्रातिपदिक) + varṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + sahasra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुṃsaka; Dvitīyā-vibhakti (Accusative), Bahuvacana; समासः: तत्पुरुषः (bahūni varṣāṇi = many years; varṣāṇāṃ sahasrāṇi = thousands of years) used adverbially as duration

• tapyatām: (of those) practicing austerity
• tapyatām: Kriyā (क्रिया / Relative verbal idea)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √tap (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (Present); Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Bahuvacana; Ātmanepada; present participial sense in context: 'of those performing austerity' (genitive relation implied)

• paramam: supreme
• paramam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुṃsaka; Prathamā-vibhakti, Ekavacana; qualifies tapaḥ

• tapaḥ: austerity
• tapaḥ: Karta (कर्ता / Predicate-noun)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tapas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुṃsaka; Prathamā-vibhakti, Ekavacana

Characters & Entities

• Gaṅgā (Tripathagā)
• Sarayū
• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa

FAQs

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

Dharma is supported by reverence for sacred places—recognizing holy geography as a setting that elevates conduct and intention.

What is the narrative situation?

While traveling with Viśvāmitra, the princes reach and observe the sacred confluence of Sarayū and Gaṅgā.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Attentiveness and reverence—seeing the land as charged with spiritual meaning, not merely as terrain.