Shloka 8

हेमन्तवर्णनम् तथा भरतधर्मनिष्ठा-चिन्तनम्

Winter Description and Reflection on Bharata’s Devotion

Devanagari script

सेवमाने दृढं सूर्ये दिशमन्तक सेविताम्।विहीनतिलकेव स्त्री नोत्तरा दिक्प्रकाशते।।।।

Transliteration

sevamāne dṛḍhaṃ sūrye diśam antaka-sevitām |

vihīnatilakeva strī nottarā dik prakāśate ||

Translation

太陽が堅く南の方角—死の神に仕えられるとされる領域—に通うゆえ、彼を失った北の方は輝かず、まるで額のティラカを欠いた女のようである。

Word by Word

• सेवमाने: when (the sun) is attending/turning
• सेवमाने: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sev (धातु) + śānac (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: Present middle participle (वर्तमानकाले आत्मनेपदे शानच्), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; agreeing with 'sūrye' (when the sun is attending/turning to...)

• दृढम्: firmly, intensely
• दृढम्: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: dṛḍha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adverbial accusative (क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण द्वितीया) meaning 'firmly/strongly'

• सूर्ये: when/with the sun
• सूर्ये: Kāla/Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sūrya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• दिशम्: direction
• दिशम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: diś (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• अन्तक-सेविताम्: frequented by Yama (south)
• अन्तक-सेविताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: antaka-sevita (प्रातिपदिक; sevita from √sev)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; tatpuruṣa: antakena sevitā (served by Antaka/Yama) qualifying 'diśam'

• विहीन-तिलका: without a tilaka-mark
• विहीन-तिलका: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vihīna-tilaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; tatpuruṣa: vihīnam tilakam yasyāḥ (devoid of tilaka)

• इव: like
• इव: Upamā (उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Simile particle (उपमा-अव्यय)

• स्त्री: a woman
• स्त्री: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: strī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; upamāna

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध-अव्यय)

• उत्तरा: northern
• उत्तरा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: uttara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; qualifying 'dik'

• दिक्: direction
• दिक्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: diś (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• प्रकाशते: shines, appears
• प्रकाशते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-kāś (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), Ātmanepada, 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular

Context

And then poised, they offered libations of water to their forefathers and gods and prayer to the rising Sun.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa
• Sūrya (Sun)
• Antaka (Death)
• uttarā diś (north)

FAQs

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

Dharma is framed cosmically: even light and directionality follow an order; recognizing such order cultivates humility and steadiness amid change.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma poetically explains the sun’s southern course and its felt effect on the brightness of the northern quarter.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Poetic insight joined to restraint: Rāma interprets nature without excess, using imagery to communicate clearly.