Shloka 11

पञ्चवटी-निर्देशः

Agastya Directs Rama to Panchavati

Devanagari script

किन्तु व्यादिश मे देशं सोदकं बहुकाननम्।यत्राश्रमपदं कृत्वा वसेयं निरतस्सुखम्।।।।

Transliteration

kintu vyādiśa me deśaṃ sodakaṃ bahukānanam | yatrāśramapadaṃ kṛtvā vaseyaṃ nirataḥ sukham ||

Translation

“എന്നാൽ ദയവായി ജലസമൃദ്ധവും ധാരാളം വനങ്ങളുമുള്ള ഒരു ദേശം എനിക്കു നിർദ്ദേശിക്കണമേ; അവിടെ ആശ്രമം സ്ഥാപിച്ച് ഞാൻ സ്ഥിരമായി സുഖശാന്തിയോടെ വസിക്കട്ടെ.”

Word by Word

• kintu: but
• kintu: Discourse connector (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kintu (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction/particle (निपात), 'but/however'

• vyādiśa: direct/point out
• vyādiśa: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-ā√diś (धातु)
• Form: Loṭ (imperative), Madhyama-puruṣa, Singular, Parasmaipada

• me: to me
• me: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Dative (चतुर्थी/4), Singular

• deśam: place
• deśam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• sodakam: with water
• sodakam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa-udaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa with sa- (सह) meaning 'with'; Masculine, Accusative, Singular; qualifying deśam

• bahu-kānanam: having many groves/forests
• bahu-kānanam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bahu (प्रातिपदिक) + kānana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa compound; Masculine, Accusative, Singular; qualifying deśam

• yatra: where
• yatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Relative adverb

• āśrama-padam: hermitage-site
• āśrama-padam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āśrama (प्रातिपदिक) + pada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa compound; Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• kṛtvā: having made
• kṛtvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा), 'having done/made'

• vaseyam: may I dwell
• vaseyam: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vas (धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), Uttama-puruṣa, Singular, Parasmaipada

• nirataḥ: engaged/steadfast
• nirataḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nirata (प्रातिपदिक; ni√ram धातु + kta)
• Form: Past participle used adjectivally; Masculine, Nominative, Singular; qualifying implied 'aham'

• sukham: happily
• sukham: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Accusative used adverbially (क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण द्वितीया)

Context

Direct me to a place with water and dense forest where we can build an ashram and live happily.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Agastya
• āśrama (hermitage)

FAQs

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

Seeking counsel from the wise: dharma includes acting under proper guidance, especially when choosing a place to live and practice righteous conduct.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma asks Agastya to indicate a suitable location—watered and forested—where they can set up a hermitage.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Prudence and humility: Rāma does not presume; he requests direction from a realized sage.