Shloka 42

पञ्चाप्सरो-सरः कथनम् तथा अगस्त्याश्रममार्गनिर्देशः

Panchapsara Lake Account and Directions to Agastya

Devanagari script

दक्षिणां दिशमास्थाय वनषण्डस्य पार्श्वतः।तत्रागस्त्याश्रमपदं गत्वा योजनमन्तरा।।।।

Transliteration

dakṣiṇāṃ diśam āsthāya vana-ṣaṇḍasya pārśvataḥ |

tatrāgastyāśrama-padaṃ gatvā yojanam antarā ||

Translation

ഘനമായ വനഖണ്ഡത്തിന്റെ അരികിലൂടെ ദക്ഷിണദിശയെ ആശ്രയിച്ച്, അവിടെ നിന്ന് ഒരു യോജന മുന്നോട്ട് പോയാൽ, അഗസ്ത്യമുനിയുടെ ആശ്രമസ്ഥാനത്തെ എത്തും।

Word by Word

• दक्षिणाम्: southern
• दक्षिणाम्: Karma (कर्म, direction as object of motion)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दक्षिण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (of दिशम्)

• दिशम्: direction
• दिशम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिश् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• आस्थाय: having taken (the way)
• आस्थाय: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त (Absolutive/Gerund), 'having set out/taken to'

• वन-षण्डस्य: of the grove/cluster of trees
• वन-षण्डस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन + षण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: वनस्य षण्डः (cluster of trees)

• पार्श्वतः: nearby
• पार्श्वतः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पार्श्वतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त; स्थानवाचक (adverb) 'near/beside'

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, देशवाचक

• अगस्त्य-आश्रम-पदम्: the site of Agastya's hermitage
• अगस्त्य-आश्रम-पदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अगस्त्य + आश्रम + पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: अगस्त्यस्य आश्रमस्य पदम् (place/site)

• गत्वा: having gone
• गत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त (Absolutive/Gerund), 'having gone'

• योजनम्: a yojana
• योजनम्: Karma (कर्म, measure)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative of measure), एकवचन

• अन्तरा: at a distance
• अन्तरा: Adhikarana (अधिकरण, distance)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन्तरा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, परिमाण/अवधिवाचक (adverb/preposition-like) 'at a distance/within'

Context

If you go in the southern direction for a yojana you will find Agasthya's hermitage by the side of a cluster of trees.

Characters & Entities

• Agastya
• southern direction (dakṣiṇā diś)

FAQs

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

Dharma is shown as respect for sacred persons and places: receiving correct guidance and moving toward a r̥ṣi’s āśrama with intention and reverence.

What is the narrative situation?

Sūtīkṣṇa provides practical directions to Agastya’s hermitage, locating it southward near a grove, about a yojana away.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Teachability and humility—Rāma proceeds by the counsel of sages, reflecting his commitment to righteous guidance.