Shloka 15

पञ्चाप्सरो-सरः कथनम् तथा अगस्त्याश्रममार्गनिर्देशः

Panchapsara Lake Account and Directions to Agastya

Devanagari script

तत्र कर्तुं तपोविघ्नं देवैस्सर्वैर्नियोजिताः।।।।प्रधानाप्सरसः पञ्च विद्युच्चलितवर्चसः।

Transliteration

tatra kartuṃ tapovighnaṃ devaiḥ sarvair niyojitāḥ |

pradhānāpsarasaḥ pañca vidyuccalitavarcasaḥ ||

Translation

そこで苦行を妨げるため、神々は皆、稲妻のきらめきのように輝く五人の第一のアプサラスを遣わした。

Word by Word

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (locative adverb: 'there')

• कर्तुम्: to do
• कर्तुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (धातु) + tumun (कृत्)
• Form: तुमुनन्त (infinitive), प्रयोजनार्थक (purpose)

• तपोविघ्नम्: obstruction to penance
• तपोविघ्नम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tapas + vighna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (तपसः विघ्नः = 'obstacle to penance')

• देवैः: by the gods
• देवैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/instrumental), बहुवचन

• सर्वैः: by all
• सर्वैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; विशेषण (of 'devaiḥ')

• नियोजिताः: were appointed
• नियोजिताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-√yuj (धातु) + kta (कृत्)
• Form: कृत्प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle/क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगे 'appointed/engaged'

• प्रधानाप्सरसः: chief nymphs
• प्रधानाप्सरसः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pradhāna + apsaras (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (प्रधानाः अप्सरसः = 'chief apsarases')

• पञ्च: five
• पञ्च: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pañca (अव्यय/संख्याशब्द)
• Form: संख्यावाचक (indeclinable numeral used adjectivally)

• विद्युच्चलितवर्चसः: with lightning-like radiance
• विद्युच्चलितवर्चसः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vidyut + calita + varcas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; समासः—बहुव्रीहि (विद्युत्-चलितं वर्चः येषां ताः = 'whose radiance is like flashing lightning'); विशेषण (of 'apsarasaḥ')

Context

All the gods then engaged five of the important nymphs, glittering like lightning, to disturb the penance of the sage.

Characters & Entities

• devāḥ (gods)
• apsarasaḥ (apsarases)

FAQs

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

The verse illustrates how dharma can be challenged by deliberate temptation; steadfastness in tapas and self-control is implied as the righteous response.

What is the narrative situation?

The gods decide to sabotage a sage’s penance by sending alluring celestial nymphs.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The implied virtue is brahmacarya/self-restraint—maintaining dharmic discipline even when beauty and pleasure are presented.