Shloka 2

अयोमुखी-दर्शनम् तथा कबन्ध-प्रवेशः

Ayomukhi Encounter and the ظهور of Kabandha

Devanagari script

तौ दिशं दक्षिणां गत्वा शरचापासिधारिणौ।अविप्रहतमैक्ष्वाकौ पन्थानं प्रतिपेदतुः।।।।

Transliteration

tau diśaṃ dakṣiṇāṃ gatvā śaracāpāsidhāriṇau |

aviprahatamaikṣvākau panthānaṃ pratipedatuḥ ||

Translation

矢と弓と剣を携え、二人のイクシュヴァーク王子は南へ進み、踏みならされぬ道へと入っていった。

Word by Word

• tau: those two
• tau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

• diśam: direction
• diśam: Karma (कर्म; destination)
• Type: Noun
• Root: diś (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• dakṣiṇām: southern
• dakṣiṇām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dakṣiṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular; adjective of 'diśam'

• gatvā: having gone
• gatvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √gam (गम् धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा)

• śara-cāpa-asi-dhāriṇau: bearing arrows, bows, and swords
• śara-cāpa-asi-dhāriṇau: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śara (प्रातिपदिक) + cāpa (प्रातिपदिक) + asi (प्रातिपदिक) + dhārin (√dhṛ; धारिन् प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual; (samāhāra/itaretara) dvandva-like enumeration: 'bearing arrows, bows, and swords'; qualifies 'tau/aikṣvākau'

• aviprahatam: untrodden/unbeaten
• aviprahatam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a- (नञ्) + viprahata (√han; हत कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक with vi-pra-)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular; adjective of 'panthānam'

• aikṣvākau: the two Ikṣvāku princes
• aikṣvākau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aikṣvāka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

• panthānam: path
• panthānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: panthāna/panthan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• pratipedatuḥ: they two reached/attained
• pratipedatuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: prati-√pad (पद् धातु)
• Form: Liṭ-lakāra (लिट्; Perfect), Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद), 3rd person, Dual

Context

Then the two brothers saw a fearful demoness who could strike terror in the mind of the timid, an uncouth figure with huge curved skins, with a big stomach, dishevelled hair, sharp and long teeth, devouring wild animals.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa
• Ikṣvāku

FAQs

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

Dharma here is disciplined perseverance in a righteous mission: the princes proceed with readiness and restraint, moving forward through hardship without abandoning their duty.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa travel southward through the forest and take an unfrequented route, setting the stage for encounters with dangers in the wilderness.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Courage joined to preparedness—moving into uncertainty while equipped and steady-minded.