Valmiki Ramayana 1.3.2 — Bala Kanda, Sarga 3, Shloka 2

तृतीयः सर्गः (Bālakāṇḍa 3): Vālmīki’s Yogic Verification and the Epic Synopsis

Devanagari script

उपस्पृश्योदकं सम्यग्मुनिस्स्थित्वा कृताञ्जलि: ।प्राचीनाग्रेषु दर्भेषु धर्मेणान्वेषते गतिम् ।।।।

Transliteration

upaspṛśyodakaṃ samyag munis sthitvā kṛtāñjaliḥ |

prācīnāgreṣu darbheṣu dharmeṇānvēṣate gatim ||

Translation

正しく浄めの水を口に含んだのち、牟尼は穂先を東に向けたクシャ草の上に坐し、合掌して、タパスより生じたダルマによって、ラーマの古き物語の真の道筋を求めた。

Word by Word

• उपस्पृश्य: having performed ācamana (sipping/touching water)
• उपस्पृश्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उप + स्पृश् (धातु; कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त (Gerund): having touched/sipped (ācamana sense)

• उदकम्: water
• उदकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उदक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• सम्यक्: properly
• सम्यक्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम्यक् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (manner adverb: properly/completely)

• मुनिः: the sage
• मुनिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• स्थित्वा: having sat/stood
• स्थित्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्था (धातु; कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त (Gerund): having stood/sat (having taken position)

• कृताञ्जलिः: with folded palms
• कृताञ्जलिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत + अञ्जलि (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुषप्रायः: कृतः अञ्जलिः यस्य (one with folded hands)

• प्राचीनाग्रेषु: with tips facing east
• प्राचीनाग्रेषु: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्राचीन + अग्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचन (qualifying दर्भेषु); समासः कर्मधारयः: प्राचीनम् अग्रं येषाम् (whose tips are eastward)

• दर्भेषु: on/among kuśa grass
• दर्भेषु: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दर्भ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचन

• धर्मेण: by dharma/by the power of penance
• धर्मेण: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• अन्वेषते: searches for
• अन्वेषते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु + इष्/एष् (धातु)
• Form: लट्, आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• गतिम्: course/way (of events)
• गतिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

Context

Having performed achamana, Valmiki seated on kusha grass with folded palms, searched for the course of past events in the history of Rama by his power of penance.

Characters & Entities

• Vālmīki
• udaka (water for ācamana)
• east (prācī)
• Rāma (implied as the sought narrative)

FAQs

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

Dharma is presented as inner and outer purity: truthful knowledge is approached through disciplined ritual, humility, and ascetic integrity.

What is the narrative situation?

Vālmīki prepares himself ritually and meditatively, then seeks the complete, authentic account of Rāma’s life through spiritual insight.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Vālmīki’s reverence and rigor—his commitment to satya (truth) and dharma as the foundation for composing itihāsa.