Shloka 2

हेमन्तवर्णनम् तथा भरतधर्मनिष्ठा-चिन्तनम्

Winter Description and Reflection on Bharata’s Devotion

Devanagari script

स कदाचित्प्रभातायां शर्वर्यां रघुनन्दनः।प्रययावभिषेकार्थं रम्यां गोदावरीं नदीम्।।।।

Transliteration

sa kadācit prabhātāyāṃ śarvaryāṃ raghunandanaḥ | prayayāv abhiṣekārthaṃ ramyāṃ godāvarīṃ nadīm ||

Translation

ഒരിക്കൽ, രാത്രി പ്രഭാതമായി മാറുമ്പോൾ, രഘുവംശത്തിന്റെ ആനന്ദമായ ശ്രീരാമൻ പ്രഭാത അഭിഷേകസ്നാനാർത്ഥം മനോഹരമായ ഗോദാവരി നദിയിലേക്കു പുറപ്പെട്ടു.

Word by Word

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• कदाचित्: once, at some time
• कदाचित्: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kadācit (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (कालवाचक-अव्यय)

• प्रभातायाम्: at dawn/morning
• प्रभातायाम्: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prabhātā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• शर्वर्याम्: in the night
• शर्वर्याम्: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śarvarī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• रघुनन्दनः: Raghu's descendant (Rama)
• रघुनन्दनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: raghu-nandana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; tatpuruṣa: raghoḥ nandanaḥ (delight/son of Raghu-line)

• प्रययौ: went
• प्रययौ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-yā (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), Parasmaipada, 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular; pra+yā = went forth

• अभिषेक-अर्थम्: for ablution
• अभिषेक-अर्थम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: abhiṣeka-artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; tatpuruṣa: abhiṣekasya arthaḥ (purpose of bathing/ablution) used adverbially (prayojana)

• रम्याम्: beautiful
• रम्याम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ramya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; qualifying 'nadīm'

• गोदावरीम्: Godavari
• गोदावरीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: godāvarī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; proper noun qualifying 'nadīm'

• नदीम्: river
• नदीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nadī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

Context

The days will be frost-smitten. The Sun will also be mild. Due to heavy dewfall the weather will be cold with the blowing of the wind. Forests will be empty (as no animals would be seen moving around.)

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Godāvarī

FAQs

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

It highlights daily discipline and purity—Rāma follows customary righteous conduct (ācāra) through morning ablutions, reflecting steadiness in dharma even in exile.

What is the narrative situation?

In the Daṇḍaka forest region near the Godāvarī, Rāma goes at dawn to the river for his routine bath.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Self-discipline and steadfast observance of proper conduct (maryādā) in ordinary daily life.