Shloka 69

पञ्चाप्सरो-सरः कथनम् तथा अगस्त्याश्रममार्गनिर्देशः

Panchapsara Lake Account and Directions to Agastya

Devanagari script

एवं कथयमानस्य तस्य सौमित्रिणा सह।रामस्यास्तं गतस्सूर्यस्सन्ध्याकालोऽभ्यवर्ततः।।।।

Transliteration

evaṃ kathayamānasya tasya saumitriṇā saha | rāmasyāstaṃ gataḥ sūryaḥ sandhyākālo 'bhyavartataḥ ||

Translation

സൗമിത്രിയോടു (ലക്ഷ്മണനോടു) കൂടി രാമൻ ഇങ്ങനെ സംസാരിച്ചുകൊണ്ടിരിക്കെ, സൂര്യൻ അസ്തമിച്ചു; സന്ധ്യാകാലം അവരെ സമീപിച്ചു.

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (manner: thus)

• कथयमानस्य: of (him) narrating
• कथयमानस्य: Sambandha (षष्ठी; ‘while he was narrating’)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कथय् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ/शानच्-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त (present participle, parasmaipada sense); पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी (Genitive); एकवचन

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक; षष्ठी; एकवचन

• सौमित्रिणा: with Saumitri (Lakshmana)
• सौमित्रिणा: Sahakari (सहकारी/सह-कारक; accompaniment)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सौमित्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया (Instrumental); एकवचन

• सह: together with
• सह: Sahakari (सहकारक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; सहार्थक (with)

• रामस्य: of Rama
• रामस्य: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी (Genitive); एकवचन

• अस्तम्: to setting (west)/to rest
• अस्तम्: Gati-Karma (गति-कर्म/goal)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (Accusative); एकवचन; गत्यर्थे लक्ष्य (goal of motion)

• गतः: gone
• गतः: Kriya (क्रिया; ‘having gone’)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन

• सूर्यः: the sun
• सूर्यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन

• सन्ध्याकालः: evening time
• सन्ध्याकालः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सन्ध्या + काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (सन्ध्यायाः कालः); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन

• अभ्यवर्तत: came on/arrived
• अभ्यवर्तत: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि + वृत् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past); प्रथमपुरुष (3rd); एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

Context

While Rama was thus narrating to Lakshmana (the story of Agastya), the Sun set and evening closed in.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Saumitri (Lakṣmaṇa)
• Sūrya
• Sandhyā (twilight)

FAQs

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

Dharma here is expressed as attentiveness to proper time and duty: twilight marks a transition that calls for disciplined observance (sandhyā), reminding one to align actions with sacred daily rhythms.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma is speaking with Lakṣmaṇa (in context, about Agastya and related matters) when daylight ends and evening twilight begins.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s maryādā (sense of propriety): even ordinary time-changes are treated with seriousness, preparing for the appropriate twilight observances.