Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 2, Shloka 8

द्वितीयः सर्गः — श्लोकप्रादुर्भावः

The Manifestation of the Śloka

Devanagari script

स शिष्यहस्तादादाय वल्कलं नियतेन्द्रिय: ।विचचार ह पश्यंस्तत्सर्वतो विपुलं वनम् ।।1.2.8।।

Transliteration

sa śiṣya-hastād ādāya valkalaṃ niyatendriyaḥ |

vicacāra ha paśyaṃs tat sarvato vipulaṃ vanam ||1.2.8||

Translation

ശിഷ്യന്റെ കൈയിൽ നിന്നു വൽക്കലം ഏറ്റുവാങ്ങി, ഇന്ദ്രിയനിയമമുള്ള വാൽമീകി സർവ്വദിക്കുകളിലേക്കും നോക്കി ആ വിശാലവനത്തിൽ വിഹരിച്ചു.

Word by Word

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

• śiṣya-hastāt: from the disciple's hand
• śiṣya-hastāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiṣya (प्रातिपदिक) + hasta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (षष्ठी): śiṣyasya hastaḥ; Masculine, Ablative (पञ्चमी) Singular

• ādāya: having taken
• ādāya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā + dā (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यप्); "having taken"

• valkalam: bark-garment
• valkalam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: valkala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative Singular

• niyatendriyaḥ: one with restrained senses
• niyatendriyaḥ: Karta-viśeṣaṇa (कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: niyata (प्रातिपदिक) + indriya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Bahuvrīhi: niyatāni indriyāṇi yasya; Masculine, Nominative Singular; qualifies saḥ

• vicacāra: wandered
• vicacāra: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi + car (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ (लिट्, perfect), Parasmaipada; 3rd person Singular

• ha: indeed (narrative)
• ha: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ha (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; particle (निपात), narrative emphasis

• paśyan: seeing, looking at
• paśyan: Karta-viśeṣaṇa (कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ); Masculine, Nominative Singular; agrees with saḥ

• tat: that
• tat: Karma-viśeṣaṇa (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma; Neuter, Accusative Singular; qualifies vanam

• sarvataḥ: all around
• sarvataḥ: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देश-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + tasil (तसिल्)
• Form: Avyaya (tasil-anta); adverb = "on all sides"

• vipulam: vast
• vipulam: Karma-viśeṣaṇa (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vipula (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adjective; Neuter, Accusative Singular; qualifies vanam

• vanam: forest
• vanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative Singular

Context

Valmiki who had his senses under his command received the bark-garment from the hands of his disciple and wandered about in that extensive forest, looking all around.

Characters & Entities

• Vālmīki
• disciple (śiṣya)
• valkala (bark garment)
• forest (vana)

FAQs

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

Inner discipline supports right perception: self-restraint (niyama/dama) is presented as the foundation for clear observation and truthful understanding (satya-oriented insight).

What is the narrative situation?

After receiving ascetic clothing, Vālmīki moves through the forest attentively—setting the stage for the event that will catalyze the first śloka.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Vālmīki’s niyatendriyatā—control of senses and mind, a hallmark of dharmic ascetic life.