Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 24, Shloka 20

गङ्गा–सरयू-सङ्गमः, मलद–करूश-देशकथा, ताटकावनप्रवेशोपदेशः

The Confluence of Gaṅgā and Sarayū; the Tale of Malada–Karūśa; Counsel on Tātakā’s Forest

Devanagari script

इह भूम्यां मलं दत्वा दत्वा कारूशमेव च।शरीरजं महेन्द्रस्य ततो हर्षं प्रपेदिरे।।1.24.20।।

Transliteration

iha bhūmyāṃ malaṃ datvā datvā kārūṣam eva ca |

śarīrajaṃ mahendrasya tato harṣaṃ prapेदire || 1.24.20 ||

Translation

ഇവിടെ ഈ ഭൂമിയിൽ മഹേന്ദ്രൻ തന്റെ ദേഹജന്യമായ മലിനതയും വിശപ്പും വിട്ടുവെച്ചു; തുടർന്ന് ദേവന്മാർ മഹാനന്ദം പ്രാപിച്ചു.

Word by Word

• इह: here
• इह: अधिकरण (locative sense: 'here')
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (स्थानवाचक-अव्ययम्) — indeclinable adverb of place

• भूम्याम्: on the ground / in this place
• भूम्याम्: अधिकरण
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूमि (प्रातिपदिकम्)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन — feminine, locative singular

• मलम्: impurity / taint
• मलम्: कर्म
• Type: Noun
• Root: मल (प्रातिपदिकम्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन — neuter, accusative singular

• दत्वा: having given / having left
• दत्वा: पूर्वकालक्रिया (main action modifier)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (पूर्वकालक्रिया), धातुः—दा (दाने) — gerund/absolutive “having given/placed/left”

• दत्वा: having given / having left
• दत्वा: पूर्वकालक्रिया (main action modifier)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (पूर्वकालक्रिया), धातुः—दा (दाने) — gerund/absolutive (repeated)

• कारूशम्: Kārūśa (name of a condition/affliction as per context)
• कारूशम्: कर्म
• Type: Noun
• Root: कारूश (प्रातिपदिकम्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन — neuter, accusative singular

• एव: indeed / just
• एव: सम्बन्ध/निपात (emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (निश्चय/अवधारणार्थक-निपातः) — emphatic particle

• च: and / also
• च: समुच्चय (coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (समुच्चयार्थक-निपातः) — conjunction

• शरीरजम्: born from the body
• शरीरजम्: कर्म (qualifier of an implied/understood noun, or as object itself)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शरीर + ज (प्रातिपदिकम्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन — neuter, accusative singular; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (शरीरात् जातम्)

• महेन्द्रस्य: of Mahendra (Indra)
• महेन्द्रस्य: षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध (possessor/relational)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेन्द्र (प्रातिपदिकम्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन — masculine, genitive singular

• ततः: thereafter / then
• ततः: कालाधिकरण (temporal sequence)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (तस्मात्/तदनन्तरम्—क्रम/हेतुवाचक) — indeclinable ‘then/thereafter’

• हर्षम्: joy
• हर्षम्: कर्म
• Type: Noun
• Root: हर्ष (प्रातिपदिकम्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन — masculine, accusative singular

• प्रपेदिरे: they attained / obtained
• प्रपेदिरे: क्रिया (मुख्यक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + पद् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (परोक्षभूत), प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन; आत्मनेपदम् — perfect, 3rd person plural, middle voice; धातुः—पद् (गतौ) with उपसर्ग ‘प्र’

Context

With the hunger and the taint and impurity from the body of Mahendra removed at this place, the devas rejoiced.

Characters & Entities

• Mahendra (Indra)
• Devas
• Bhūmi (this place/land)

FAQs

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

Dharma involves transforming harm into harmony: impurity and suffering are not merely removed but are ritually ‘placed away’ so that order and well-being return.

What is the narrative situation?

Indra’s bodily taint and hunger are said to be left at that very location; the gods rejoice, marking the place as narratively and ritually significant.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The devas’ commitment to cosmic order—rejoicing not in power alone, but in restoration and cleansing.