Shloka 6

तापसाश्रममण्डलदर्शनम्

Entering Dandaka and Meeting the Sages

Devanagari script

बलिहोमार्चितं पुण्यं ब्रह्मघोषनिनादितम्।पुष्पैश्चान्यैः परिक्षिप्तं पद्मिन्या च सपद्मया।।।।फलमूलाशनैर्दान्तैश्चीरकृष्णाजिनाम्बरैः।सूर्यवैश्वानराभैश्च पुराणैर्मुनिभिर्वुतम्।।।।

Transliteration

balihomārcitaṃ puṇyaṃ brahmaghoṣa-nināditam |

puṣpaiś cānyaiḥ parikṣiptaṃ padminyā ca sa-padmayā ||

Translation

ബലിയും ഹോമവും കൊണ്ട് അർച്ചിതമായ ആ പുണ്യസ്ഥലം ബ്രഹ്മഘോഷത്തിന്റെ നിനാദത്തോടെ മുഴങ്ങിക്കൊണ്ടിരുന്നു; നാനാവിധ പുഷ്പങ്ങൾ ചിതറിക്കിടന്നതും, കമലങ്ങൾ നിറഞ്ഞ പദ്മിനീ തടാകം കൊണ്ട് അലങ്കരിക്കപ്പെട്ടതുമായിരുന്നു.

Word by Word

• bali-homa-arcitam: worshipped with offerings and fire-sacrifices
• bali-homa-arcitam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bali (प्रातिपदिक) + homa (प्रातिपदिक) + arcita (कृदन्त; √arc धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्यय; तत्पुरुष-समास: ‘बलिभिः होमैः च अर्चितम्’ (offerings & oblations)

• puṇyam: sacred
• puṇyam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: puṇya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• brahma-ghoṣa-nināditam: resounding with Vedic chanting
• brahma-ghoṣa-nināditam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: brahma (प्रातिपदिक) + ghoṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + ninādita (कृदन्त; √nad धातु, नि-उपसर्ग)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्यय; तत्पुरुष: ‘ब्रह्मघोषेण निनादितम्’ = resounding with Vedic chant

• puṣpaiḥ: with flowers
• puṣpaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puṣpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instr/करण), बहुवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya-dyotaka (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय

• anyaiḥ: other, various
• anyaiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instr), बहुवचन; ‘पुष्पैः’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• parikṣiptam: strewn/scattered around
• parikṣiptam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parikṣipta (कृदन्त; pari-√kṣip धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्यय

• padminyā: with a lotus-pond
• padminyā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: padminī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instr/करण), एकवचन; ‘lotus-pond’

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya-dyotaka (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय

• sa-padmayā: together with lotuses
• sa-padmayā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (अव्यय/उपसर्गवत् ‘with’) + padma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instr), एकवचन; अव्ययीभाव: ‘सपद्मया’ = ‘पद्मैः सह’ (with lotuses)

Context

The law-abiding ascetics, who were comparable to fire and who were accomplished in their penances, pleased lord Rama in a befitting manner.ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē araṇyakāṇḍē prathamassargaḥ৷৷Thus ends the first sarga of Aranyakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.

Characters & Entities

• bali (offerings)
• homa (fire-sacrifice)
• padminī (lotus-pond)
• padma (lotus)

FAQs

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

Dharma is sustained by yajña and śruti: offerings and Vedic sound maintain sacred order, portraying the āśrama as a moral-spiritual institution.

What is the narrative situation?

The hermitage is depicted as ritually active and serene, where worship and Vedic study blend with the beauty of nature.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Steadfast religiosity and learning (adhyāyana, yajña-niṣṭhā) are emphasized through the ‘brahmaghoṣa’ and homa.