Shloka 1

शबरी-आश्रम-प्रवेशः

Rama and Lakshmana at Sabari’s Hermitage

Devanagari script

तौ कबन्धेन तं मार्गं पम्पाया दर्शितं वने।प्रतस्थतुर्दिशं गृह्य प्रतीचीं नृवरात्मजौ।।।।

Transliteration

tau kabandhena taṁ mārgaṁ pampāyā darśitaṁ vane | pratasthatur diśaṁ gṛhya pratīcīṁ nṛvarātmajau ||

Translation

കബന്ധൻ വനത്തിൽ പമ്പാസരോവരത്തിലേക്കു കാണിച്ച വഴിയെ പിടിച്ച്, ആ രണ്ടു നരശ്രേഷ്ഠ രാജകുമാരന്മാർ പടിഞ്ഞാറുദിശയിലേക്കു പുറപ്പെട്ടു.

Word by Word

• तौ: those two
• तौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Dual

• कबन्धेन: by Kabandha
• कबन्धेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kabandha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Singular

• तम्: that
• तम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• मार्गम्: path
• मार्गम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mārga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• पम्पायाः: of Pampa
• पम्पायाः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pampā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular

• दर्शितम्: shown
• दर्शितम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: darśita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Kta participle (क्त), Neuter, Accusative, Singular; viśeṣaṇa of ‘mārgaṃ’ (‘shown’)

• वने: in the forest
• वने: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (सप्तमी/7), Singular

• प्रतस्थतुः: they two set out
• प्रतस्थतुः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-sthā (प्र + स्था धातु)
• Form: Laṅ-lakāra (लङ्/Imperfect), Parasmaipada, Prathama-puruṣa, Dual

• दिशम्: direction
• दिशम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: diś (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• गृह्य: having taken
• गृह्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: grah (ग्रह् धातु)
• Form: Absolutive in -ya (ल्यबन्त), ‘having taken/choosing’

• प्रतीचीम्: western
• प्रतीचीम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pratīcī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular; viśeṣaṇa of ‘diśam’

• नृवरात्मजौ: the two sons of the best of men (princes)
• नृवरात्मजौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nṛvara + ātmaja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) ‘nṛvarasya ātmajau’; Masculine, Nominative, Dual; apposition to ‘tau’

Context

The two princes set forth in the western direction towards Pampa shown by Kabandha.

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Lakshmana
• Kabandha
• Pampā (lake/region)
• forest
• western direction

FAQs

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

Dharma is disciplined perseverance: after receiving right counsel, they act promptly and continue the righteous quest without delay.

What is the narrative situation?

Rama and Lakshmana begin their westward journey toward Pampā, following Kabandha’s directions.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Determination (dṛḍha-saṅkalpa): continuing the search for Sītā through hardship with steady resolve.