Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 23, Shloka 2

कामाश्रम

प्रवेशः / Entry into Kāma’s Hermitage at the Sarayū–Gaṅgā Confluence

Devanagari script

कौसल्या सुप्रजा राम पूर्वा सन्ध्या प्रवर्तते।उत्तिष्ठ नरशार्दूल कर्तव्यं दैवमाह्निकम्।।।।

Transliteration

kausalyā suprajā rāma pūrvā sandhyā pravartate |

uttiṣṭha naraśārdūla kartavyaṃ daivam āhnikam ||

Translation

ಕೌಸಲ್ಯೆಯ ಸುಪ್ರಜನೇ ರಾಮಾ! ಪೂರ್ವಸಂಧ್ಯೆ ಪ್ರವರ್ತಿಸುತ್ತಿದೆ. ನರಶಾರ್ದೂಲನೇ, ಏಳು; ದೈವ ಹಾಗೂ ಆಹ್ನಿಕ ಕರ್ಮಗಳನ್ನು ನೆರವೇರಿಸಬೇಕು.

Word by Word

• tasya: of that (sage)
• tasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga; Ṣaṣṭhī-vibhakti (Genitive/सम्बन्ध), Ekavacana

• arṣeḥ: of the seer
• arṣeḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṛṣi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga; Ṣaṣṭhī-vibhakti (Genitive), Ekavacana

• parama-udāram: most noble / very generous
• parama-udāram: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक) + udāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुṃsaka; Dvitīyā-vibhakti (Accusative), Ekavacana; कर्मधारयः (paramam udāram) qualifying vacaḥ

• vacaḥ: words
• vacaḥ: Karma (कर्म / Object of hearing)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुṃsaka; Dvitīyā-vibhakti (Accusative), Ekavacana

• śrutvā: having heard
• śrutvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: √śru (धातु) → śrutvā (क्त्वान्त)
• Form: Absolutive (Gerund/क्त्वा); 'having heard'

• nṛpa-ātmajau: the two princes (sons of the king)
• nṛpa-ātmajau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nṛpa (प्रातिपदिक) + ātmaja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga; Prathamā-vibhakti, Dvivacana; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (nṛpasya ātmajau)

• snātvā: having bathed
• snātvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: √snā (धातु) → snātvā (क्त्वान्त)
• Form: Absolutive (Gerund/क्त्वा)

• kṛta-udakau: having offered water-oblations
• kṛta-udakau: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √kṛ (धातु) → kṛta (कृदन्त, क्त) + udaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga; Prathamā-vibhakti, Dvivacana; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः/कर्मधारय-सन्निकर्षः: 'kṛtam udakam yābhyām' = having performed water-offering (arghya)

• vīrau: the two heroes
• vīrau: Karta (कर्ता / Apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vīra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga; Prathamā-vibhakti, Dvivacana; apposition to nṛpātmajau

• jepatuḥ: recited
• jepatuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √jap (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ-lakāra (Perfect); Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Dvivacana; Parasmaipada

• paramam: supreme / excellent
• paramam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga; Dvitīyā-vibhakti (Accusative), Ekavacana; विशेषणम् (qualifies japam)

• japam: prayer/recitation
• japam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: japa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga; Dvitīyā-vibhakti (Accusative), Ekavacana

Context

"O beloved son of Kausalya, O Rama! the day dawns. O best among men, awake, oblations to gods and other sacred rites are required to be performed".

Characters & Entities

• Kauśalyā
• Rāma
• Daiva

FAQs

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

Dharma is sustained through regular practice: rising at dawn and performing daily rites cultivates truthfulness, steadiness, and responsibility.

What is the narrative situation?

A wake-up exhortation to Rāma at daybreak, emphasizing the obligation of daily religious duties.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Nityakarma-niṣṭhā: steadfastness in daily duties and disciplined routine.