Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 30, Shloka 5

सिद्धाश्रम

यज्ञरक्षणम् — Protection of Viśvāmitra’s Sacrifice at Siddhāśrama

Devanagari script

तौ तु तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा राजपुत्रौ यशस्विनौ।अनिद्रौ षडहोरात्रं तपोवनमरक्षताम्।।।।

Transliteration

tau tu tadvacanaṃ śrutvā rājaputrau yaśasvinau | anidrau ṣaḍahorātraṃ tapovanam arakṣatām ||

Translation

Ayant entendu ces paroles, les illustres fils du roi demeurèrent sans sommeil et, durant six jours et six nuits, gardèrent la forêt d’ascèse.

Word by Word

• तौ: those two
• तौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन (Masculine, Nominative, Dual)

• तु: then/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), विरोध/अनुवाद (but/indeed)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, विशेषणरूपेण, द्वितीया, एकवचन (Neuter, Accusative, Singular; determiner)

• वचनम्: statement/words
• वचनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Accusative, Singular)

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Kriyā (क्रिया-अनुबन्ध)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (धातु: श्रु) + ktvā (कृत्)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund)

• राजपुत्रौ: the two princes
• राजपुत्रौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājā + putra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (Masculine, Nominative, Dual)

• यशस्विनौ: illustrious
• यशस्विनौ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yaśasvin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन (Masculine, Nominative, Dual)

• अनिद्रौ: sleepless
• अनिद्रौ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: an-idra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; नञ्-तत्पुरुषार्थे (Masculine, Nominative, Dual)

• षडहोरात्रम्: for six day-nights
• षडहोरात्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṣaṭ + ahorātra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; द्विगु-समास (षट् अहोरात्राणि) (Neuter, Accusative, Singular)

• तपोवनम्: the forest of austerities (Tapovana)
• तपोवनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tapas + vana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (तपसः वनम्) (Neuter, Accusative, Singular)

• अरक्षताम्: they two protected
• अरक्षताम्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: a-rakṣ (धातु: रक्ष्)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (imperfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, द्विवचन; परस्मैपद (Imperfect, 3rd person, Dual)

Context

At these words of the sages the illustrious princes got ready to protect the tapovana for six days and six nights without sleep.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa
• Tapovana (ascetic grove/forest)

FAQs

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

Dharma demands endurance: protecting what is sacred requires sustained self-control and sacrifice of personal comfort.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa begin their watch, maintaining an unbroken guard through the prescribed period.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Austerity-like discipline in action—staying awake and attentive for the sake of others.