Shloka 25

शरभङ्गाश्रमगमनम् तथा इन्द्रदर्शनम्

Approach to Sarabhanga’s Hermitage and the Vision of Indra

Devanagari script

प्रयाते तु सहस्राक्षे राघवस्सपरिच्छदः।अग्निहोत्रमुपासीनं शरभङ्गमुपागमत्।।3.5.25।।

Transliteration

prayāte tu sahasrākṣe rāghavaḥ saparicchadaḥ |

agnihotram upāsīnaṃ śarabhaṅgam upāgamat ||3.5.25||

Translation

സഹസ്രനേത്രനായ ഇന്ദ്രൻ പുറപ്പെട്ട ശേഷം, റാഘവനായ രാമൻ സഹചാരികളോടുകൂടെ അഗ്നിഹോത്രോപാസനയിൽ ഇരുന്ന മഹർഷി ശരഭംഗനെ സമീപിച്ചു.

Word by Word

• प्रयाते: when (he) had departed
• प्रयाते: अधिकरण (सप्तमी-सम्बन्ध; locative absolute)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रयात (कृदन्त; √या + क्त)
• Form: सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; पुंलिङ्ग; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त; लोके सप्तमी (locative absolute)

• तु: then/indeed
• तु: सम्बन्धसूचक निपात
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण/विरोधसूचक निपात (but/indeed)

• सहस्राक्षे: (when) the thousand-eyed (Indra)
• सहस्राक्षे: अधिकरण (सप्तमी; in locative absolute)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहस्राक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि (सहस्रम् अक्षाणि यस्य = thousand-eyed)

• राघवः: Rama
• राघवः: कर्ता (subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राघव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सपरिच्छदः: with his retinue
• सपरिच्छदः: विशेषण (राघव-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स + परिच्छद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (परिच्छदेन सह = with attendants/retinue)

• अग्निहोत्रम्: the Agnihotra (fire-rite)
• अग्निहोत्रम्: कर्म (object; associated with upāsīnam)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्निहोत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (अग्नौ होत्रम् = fire-offering/Agnihotra rite)

• उपासीनम्: seated attending (the rite)
• उपासीनम्: विशेषण (शरभङ्ग-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उप + आसीन (कृदन्त; √आस् + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; 'seated near/engaged in'

• शरभङ्गम्: Sarabhanga
• शरभङ्गम्: कर्म (object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरभङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• उपागमत्: approached
• उपागमत्: क्रिया (action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप + √गम् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (अनद्यतनभूत/Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

Context

When Indra departed like that, Rama with his retinue (Sita and Lakshmana) went to Sarabhanga who was sitting by the side of the fire-altar (for Agnihotra).

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Sita
• Lakshmana
• Indra (Sahasraksha)
• Sarabhanga
• Agnihotra

FAQs

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

Respect for dharmic life and sacred observance: Rāma approaches a sage engaged in Agnihotra, highlighting reverence toward Vedic duty and those who uphold it.

What is the narrative situation?

Immediately after Indra leaves, Rāma (with Sītā and Lakṣmaṇa) goes to meet the ascetic Śarabhaṅga, who is seated by the ritual fire.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s humility and reverence toward sages and ritual discipline, expressed through his timely approach to Śarabhaṅga.