Valmiki Ramayana 1.2.4: Bala Kanda, Sarga 2, Shloka 4

द्वितीयः सर्गः — श्लोकप्रादुर्भावः

The Manifestation of the Śloka

Devanagari script

स तु तीरं समासाद्य तमसाया महामुनि: ।शिष्यमाह स्थितं पार्श्वे दृष्ट्वा तीर्थमकर्दमम् ।।1.2.4।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 1.2.4

Transliteration

sa tu tīraṁ samāsādya tamasāyā mahāmuniḥ |

śiṣyam āha sthitaṁ pārśve dṛṣṭvā tīrtham akardamam ||1.2.4||

Translation

തമസാ നദിയുടെ തീരം പ്രാപിച്ച മഹാമുനി, ചെളിയില്ലാത്ത നിർമ്മല തീർത്ഥം കണ്ടിട്ട്, സമീപത്ത് നിന്ന ശിഷ്യനോട് പറഞ്ഞു.

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Word by Word

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma; Masculine, Nominative Singular

• tu: then/indeed
• tu: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; particle (निपात)

• tīram: bank
• tīram: Karma (कर्म) / Gati-karman (गतिकर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tīra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative Singular

• samāsādya: having reached
• samāsādya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam + ā + sad (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा-ल्यप् form); "having reached"

• tamasāyāḥ: of (river) Tamasā
• tamasāyāḥ: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tamasā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Genitive Singular

• mahāmuniḥ: the great sage
• mahāmuniḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + muni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya: mahān muniḥ; Masculine, Nominative Singular

• śiṣyam: the disciple
• śiṣyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiṣya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative Singular

• āha: said
• āha: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ah (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ (लिट्, perfect), Parasmaipada; 3rd person Singular

• sthitam: standing
• sthitam: Karma-viśeṣaṇa (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sthā (धातु) + kta (कृत्)
• Form: PPP (क्त); Masculine, Accusative Singular; qualifies śiṣyam

• pārśve: at the side
• pārśve: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देश-अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pārśva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter/Masculine, Locative (सप्तमी) Singular; "at the side"

• dṛṣṭvā: having seen
• dṛṣṭvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा); "having seen"

• tīrtham: ford/holy bathing-place
• tīrtham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tīrtha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative Singular

• akardamam: mud-free, clear
• akardamam: Karma-viśeṣaṇa (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a- (नञ्) + kardama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adjective; Neuter, Accusative Singular; agrees with tīrtham

Context

The eminent sage Valmiki reached the bank of Tamasa and seen a descent into the river with pellucid waters, spoke to the disciple standing by the side.

Characters & Entities

• Vālmīki
• Tamasā (river)
• tīrtha (bathing-place/ford)
• disciple (Bharadvāja, implied by continuation)

FAQs

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

Dharma is linked with purity and disciplined living: the sage seeks a clean tīrtha for bathing, reflecting inner and outer cleanliness as supportive of righteous life.

What is the narrative situation?

Vālmīki arrives at the river Tamasā, notices an ideal bathing spot, and begins instructing his disciple beside him.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Mindful discernment (viveka): Vālmīki observes the environment carefully and chooses what is pure and fitting for a sage’s conduct.