Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 91, Shloka 75

Devanagari script

कल्कान्चूर्णकषायांश्च स्नानानि विविधानि च।ददृशुर्भाजनस्थानि तीर्थेषु सरतां नराः।।।।

Transliteration

kalkān cūrṇakaṣāyāṃś ca snānāni vividhāni ca |

dadṛśur bhājanasthāni tīrtheṣu saritāṃ narāḥ ||

Translation

તીર્થના ઘાટો પાસે પુરુષોએ સ્નાન માટે ગોઠવાયેલા પાત્રસ્થાનો જોયા—વિવિધ પ્રકારના કલ્ક, ચૂર્ણ અને સુગંધિત કષાયો સહિત.

Word by Word

• कल्कान्: pastes/levigated powders
• कल्कान्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कल्क (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; Accusative plural

• चूर्णकषायान्: powders and decoctions
• चूर्णकषायान्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चूर्ण + कषाय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; Accusative plural; dvandva ‘powders and decoctions/extracts’

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• स्नानानि: bathing requisites/baths
• स्नानानि: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; Accusative plural

• विविधानि: various
• विविधानि: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विविध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; Accusative plural; qualifying स्नानानि

• ददृशुः: saw
• ददृशुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/लिट्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; ‘they saw’

• भाजनस्थानि: receptacles/containers
• भाजनस्थानि: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भाजन + स्थान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; Accusative plural; ‘places/receptacles for vessels’

• तीर्थेषु: at the landing-places/ghats
• तीर्थेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), बहुवचन; Locative plural

• सरताम्: of the rivers
• सरताम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सरित् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन; Genitive plural (epic form)

• नराः: men/soldiers
• नराः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; Nominative plural

Context

The soldiers saw on the river banks at landing places levigated powder, fragrant powder and extracts and other bathing requisites of different kinds stored in receptacles.

Characters & Entities

• tīrtha (river landing/ford)

FAQs

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

Śauca (purity) as dharma in daily life: even during travel and large movements, cleanliness and proper conduct are supported institutionally.

What is the narrative situation?

The travellers reach river fords/landings where bathing supplies have been arranged in containers.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Respect for disciplined living (maryādā) through provision for hygiene and ritual cleanliness.