Shloka 18

पञ्चाप्सरो-सरः कथनम् तथा अगस्त्याश्रममार्गनिर्देशः

Panchapsara Lake Account and Directions to Agastya

Devanagari script

तथैवाप्सरसः पञ्च निवसन्त्यो यथासुखम्।।।।रमयन्ति तपोयोगान्मुनिं यौवनमास्थितम्।

Transliteration

tathaivāpsarasaḥ pañca nivasantyo yathāsukham |

ramayanti tapoyogān muniṃ yauvanam āsthitam ||

Translation

അതുപോലെ ആ അഞ്ചു അപ്സരസ്സുകളും യഥാസുഖം അവിടെ വസിച്ചു; തപോയോഗത്തിന്റെ പ്രഭാവത്താൽ യൗവനം നിലനിർത്തിയ മുനിയെ അവർ ആനന്ദിപ്പിച്ചു.

Word by Word

• तथा: thus
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (manner adverb: 'thus/in that way')

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (indeed/just)

• अप्सरसः: apsarases
• अप्सरसः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: apsaras (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• पञ्च: five
• पञ्च: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pañca (अव्यय/संख्याशब्द)
• Form: संख्यावाचक (indeclinable numeral)

• निवसन्त्यः: living (there)
• निवसन्त्यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-√vas (धातु) + śatṛ (कृत्)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त (present active participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; 'while living'

• यथासुखम्: happily; at ease
• यथासुखम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā + sukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्ययवत् प्रयोग (adverbial: 'according to comfort/at ease')

• रमयन्ति: entertain; delight
• रमयन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ram (धातु) (णिच् causative)
• Form: लट्-लकार (present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; णिच्-प्रयोग (causative: 'cause to delight')

• तपोयोगात्: by the power of penance
• तपोयोगात्: Hetu (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tapas + yoga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/ablative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (तपसः योगः = 'power/discipline of penance'); हेतौ पञ्चमी (cause)

• मुनिम्: the sage
• मुनिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• यौवनम्: youth
• यौवनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yauvana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• आस्थितम्: having attained
• आस्थितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ā-√sthā (धातु) + kta (कृत्)
• Form: कृत्प्रत्ययान्त (past participle/क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (of 'munim': 'having attained')

Context

The apsaras lived happily with the sage who remained youthful by virtue of his penance.

Characters & Entities

• apsarasaḥ (apsarases)
• muni (sage)
• tapas (austerity)

FAQs

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

Power (from tapas) without right orientation can be misused; dharma calls for directing spiritual attainments toward restraint and truth, not pleasure.

What is the narrative situation?

The apsarases remain with the sage, enjoying life with him while his ascetic power preserves his youth.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The virtue implied by contrast is vairāgya (dispassion): despite capability and vitality, one should not be ruled by enjoyment.