Shloka 1

ताटकावधः

The Slaying of Tāṭakā

Devanagari script

मुनेर्वचनमक्लीबं श्रुत्वा नरवरात्मज:।राघव: प्राञ्जलिर्भूत्वा प्रत्युवाच दृढव्रत:।।1.26.1।।

Transliteration

muner vacanam aklībaṃ śrutvā naravarātmajaḥ |

rāghavaḥ prāñjalir bhūtvā pratyuvāca dṛḍhavrataḥ ||

Translation

મુનિના નિર્ભય અને અડગ વચનો સાંભળી, નરશ્રેષ્ઠના પુત્ર રાઘવ દૃઢવ્રતી બની અંજલિ બાંધીને પ્રત્યુત્તર આપ્યો.

Word by Word

• मुनेः: of the sage
• मुनेः: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन

• वचनम्: the words
• वचनम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• अक्लीबम्: bold, unmanly-not (manly)
• अक्लीबम्: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अक्लीब (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier) of वचनम्

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: पूर्वकाल (Prior action; adverbial to main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive), ‘having heard’

• नरवरात्मजः: son of the best of men
• नरवरात्मजः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नरवर + आत्मज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘नरवरस्य आत्मजः’); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

• राघवः: Rāghava (Rāma)
• राघवः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राघव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; apposition to नरवरात्मजः

• प्राञ्जलिः: with folded palms
• प्राञ्जलिः: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्राञ्जलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier) of राघवः; ‘with folded hands’

• भूत्वा: having become
• भूत्वा: पूर्वकाल (Prior action; adverbial to main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive), ‘having become’

• प्रत्युवाच: replied
• प्रत्युवाच: क्रिया (Main action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति + वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• दृढव्रतः: firm in vow
• दृढव्रतः: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दृढ + व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (‘दृढं व्रतं यस्य’/or ‘दृढं व्रतम्’ as epithet); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; विशेषण of राघवः

Context

After listening to the manly command of ascetic Viswamitra, Rama, of the lineage of Raghu, the son of the foremost of men and firm in determination, replied with folded palms:

Characters & Entities

• Viśvāmitra (muni)
• Rāma (Rāghava)

FAQs

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

Dharma is shown as respectful compliance with righteous instruction: humility (folded palms) joined with resolve to act.

What is the narrative situation?

After hearing Viśvāmitra’s directive, Rāma prepares to respond formally and respectfully.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s discipline and steadfastness (dṛḍhavrata), paired with humility toward the sage.