Valmiki Ramayana 1.74.9: Bala Kanda, Sarga 74, Shloka 9

परशुरामप्रादुर्भावः

The Appearance of Parasurama on the Return from Mithila

Devanagari script

गच्छन्तं तं नरव्याघ्रं सर्षिसङ्घं सराघवम्।।।।घोरा: स्म पक्षिणो वाचो व्याहरन्ति ततस्तत:।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 1.74.9

Transliteration

gacchantaṃ taṃ naravyāghraṃ sarṣi-saṅghaṃ sa-rāghavam | ghorāḥ sma pakṣiṇo vāco vyāharanti tatas tataḥ || 1.74.9 ||

Translation

ഋഷിസംഘത്തോടും രാഘവന്മാരോടും കൂടെ മുന്നേറുന്ന ആ നരവ്യാഘ്രനെ കണ്ടപ്പോൾ, പല സ്ഥലങ്ങളിലും പക്ഷികൾ ഭയങ്കരവും അശുഭവും ആയ കൂകൽ മുഴക്കിക്കൊണ്ടിരുന്നു.

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Word by Word

• गच्छन्तम्: going
• गच्छन्तम्: Karma (कर्म/Object—qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त (present participle), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying तम्)

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म/Direct object—referent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• नरव्याघ्रम्: tiger among men
• नरव्याघ्रम्: Karma (कर्म/Object—apposition to तम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर + व्याघ्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारय/उपमान-तत्पुरुषार्थे: 'tiger among men' (epithet)

• सर्षिसङ्घम्: accompanied by a host of sages
• सर्षिसङ्घम्: Karma (कर्म/Object—qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स + ऋषि + सङ्घ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि: 'one who has a group of sages (with him)'

• सराघवम्: with the Rāghavas (Rāma and brothers)
• सराघवम्: Karma (कर्म/Object—qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स + राघव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि: 'one who has the Rāghavas with him'

• घोराः: frightening
• घोराः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject—qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घोर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying पक्षिणः)

• स्म: indeed/then (narrative particle)
• स्म: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्म (अव्यय)
• Form: स्म-निपात (particle) used with past narration/emphasis

• पक्षिणः: birds
• पक्षिणः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पक्षिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• वाचः: cries/sounds
• वाचः: Karma (कर्म/Direct object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाच् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• व्याहरन्ति: utter
• व्याहरन्ति: Kriyā (क्रिया/finite verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + आ + हृ (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपद

• ततः: from there/then
• ततः: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/locative adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb), स्थान/क्रमे 'from there/then'

• ततः: here and there
• ततः: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb), पुनरुक्ति द्वारा 'here and there'

Context

While this tiger among men Dasaratha, was returning with the hosts of sages and his sons, he observed here and there frightening birds making disagreeable sounds.

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Ṛṣi-saṅgha (assembly of sages)
• Birds (pakṣiṇaḥ)

FAQs

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

Dharma includes attentiveness to signs and circumstances: leaders must proceed with awareness and discernment, recognizing that actions unfold within a larger moral-cosmic order.

What is the narrative situation?

During the journey onward, unsettling bird-cries appear as portents, foreshadowing the imminent encounter with Paraśurāma.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Prudence and alertness in leadership—Daśaratha’s party is depicted within an atmosphere that calls for caution and composure.