Shloka 1

Devanagari script

अथ पञ्चवटीं गच्छन्नन्तरा रघुनन्दनः।आससाद महाकायं गृध्रं भीमपराक्रमम्।।3.14.1।।

Transliteration

atha pañcavaṭīṃ gacchann antarā raghunandanaḥ | āsasāda mahākāyaṃ gṛdhraṃ bhīmaparākramam ||

Translation

પછી પંચવટી તરફ જતા માર્ગમાં, રઘુકુલનંદન રામે વચ્ચે જ મહાકાય અને ભયંકર પરાક્રમી એક ગૃધ્રને મળ્યા.

Word by Word

• atha: then
• atha: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; discourse connector

• pañcavaṭīṃ: to Pañcavaṭī
• pañcavaṭīṃ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pañca (संख्या) + vaṭī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• gacchan: going
• gacchan: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √gam (गम् धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with 'raghunandanaḥ'

• antarā: on the way, in between
• antarā: Deśa (देश/स्थान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: antarā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb 'in between/on the way'

• raghunandanaḥ: Raghunandana (Rama)
• raghunandanaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: raghu (प्रातिपदिक) + nandana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); tatpuruṣa: 'delight of Raghu (line)'

• āsasāda: met, came upon
• āsasāda: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√sad (सद् धातु)
• Form: Lakāra: Liṭ (लिट्, perfect), Parasmaipada, Purusha: 3rd, Singular

• mahākāyaṃ: huge-bodied
• mahākāyaṃ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + kāya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन); adjective qualifying 'gṛdhram'

• gṛdhraṃ: vulture
• gṛdhraṃ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gṛdhra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• bhīmaparākramam: of terrible prowess
• bhīmaparākramam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhīma (प्रातिपदik) + parākrama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन); adjective qualifying 'gṛdhram'

Context

On the way to Panchavati, Rama, the delight of the Raghu race, met a vulture with a huge body and fearful strength.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma (Raghunandana)
• Pañcavaṭī

FAQs

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

The verse sets up dharma through companionship and protection: in the forest, righteous alliances arise unexpectedly, preparing the ground for later acts of duty and sacrifice.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma is traveling toward Pañcavaṭī and encounters a powerful vulture—later known as Jaṭāyu—who will become significant in the coming events.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s readiness and vigilance in exile—meeting beings of the forest without compromising composure or duty.