Shloka 22

पञ्चवटी-निवासः

Settlement at Pañcavaṭī and Construction of the Hermitage

Devanagari script

पर्णशालां सुविपुलां तत्र सङ्खातमृत्तिकाम्।सुस्तम्भां मस्करैर्दीर्घैः कृतवंशां सुशोभनाम्।।3.15. 21।।शमीशाखाभिरास्तीर्य दृढपाशावपाशिताम्।कुशकाशशरैः पर्णैस्सुपरिच्छादितां तथा।।।।समीकृततलां रम्यां चकार लघुविक्रमः।निवासं राघवस्यार्थे प्रेक्षणीयमनुत्तमम्।।।।

Transliteration

śamī-śākhābhir āstīrya dṛḍha-pāśāvapāśitām |

kuśa-kāśa-śaraiḥ parṇaiḥ suparicchāditāṃ tathā || 3.15.22 ||

Translation

Ia membentangkan dahan-dahan śamī, mengikatnya erat dengan tali yang kuat, lalu menutup atapnya dengan rapi memakai rumput kuśa, rumput kāśa, gelagah, dan daun-daunan.

Word by Word

• शमीशाखाभिः: with branches of śamī tree
• शमीशाखाभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शमी-शाखा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), तृतीया (Instr. 3), बहुवचन; समासः शमी + शाखा (तत्पुरुषः)

• आस्तीर्य: having spread
• आस्तीर्य: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-√स्तॄ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund/absolutive): 'having spread'; धातुः स्तॄ (to spread) उपसर्गः आ-

• दृढपाशावपाशिताम्: fastened with strong ropes
• दृढपाशावपाशिताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दृढ-पाश-अवपाशित (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्ताधारित)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), द्वितीया (Acc. 2), एकवचन; समासः दृढ (firm) + पाश (rope) + अवपाशित (tied/fastened; from ava-√paś/√pāś 'to bind') (तत्पुरुष-श्रृंखला); विशेषणम् पर्णशालाम्

• कुशकाशशरैः: with kusa, kāśa grass and reeds
• कुशकाशशरैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुश-काश-शर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), तृतीया (Instr. 3), बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः: कुश + काश + शर (kusa grass, kāśa grass, reeds)

• पर्णैः: with leaves
• पर्णैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), तृतीया (Instr. 3), बहुवचन

• सुपरिच्छादिताम्: well covered
• सुपरिच्छादिताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु-परि-छादित (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), द्वितीया (Acc. 2), एकवचन; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP) from परि-√छद् (to cover) with सु- intensifier; विशेषणम् पर्णशालाम्

• तथा: thus; also
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; प्रकारवाचक/समुच्चयार्थक (thus/also/then)

Context

Lakshmana who was quick to act dug the clay with nippers, planted long bamboo poles, put branches of sami trees across and tied them with strong ropes. He spread kusa and kasa grass and leaves on the levelled ground. He built a beautiful, spacious and nice residence for Rama.

Characters & Entities

• Lakṣmaṇa
• kuśa (grass)
• śara (reeds)

FAQs

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

Dharma as disciplined care: even in exile, righteous living includes orderly habitation—done without luxury, but with thoroughness and propriety.

What is the narrative situation?

Lakṣmaṇa continues the hut construction, thatching and securing it using forest materials.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Resourcefulness and conscientiousness—Lakṣmaṇa uses available means to create a stable, protective dwelling for Rāma’s dharmic life.