Ramayana — Kishkindha Kanda, Sarga 13, Shloka 20

Saptajana-āśrama Darśana and the Approach to Kiṣkindhā

Hermitage of Seven Sages; March toward Vāli’s Capital

Devanagari script

तेषामेवं प्रभावानां द्रुमप्राकारसंवृतम्।आश्रमस्सुदुराधर्ष अपि सेन्द्रैस्सुरासुरैः।।

Transliteration

teṣām evaṃ prabhāvānāṃ druma-prākāra-saṃvṛtam | āśramaḥ sudurādharṣaḥ api sendraiḥ surāsuraiḥ ||

Translation

അത്തരം മഹാപ്രഭാവമുള്ള തപസ്വികളുടെ ശക്തിയാൽ, വൃക്ഷപ്രാകാരമെന്നപോലെ ചുറ്റപ്പെട്ട ഈ ആശ്രമം ഇന്ദ്രനുൾപ്പെടെ ദേവന്മാർക്കും അസുരന്മാർക്കും പോലും അത്യന്തം ദുർജയം ആകുന്നു.

Word by Word

• तेषाम्: of them
• तेषाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन

• एवम्: thus/in this way
• एवम्: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकार-वाचक (manner adverb)

• प्रभावानाम्: of (their) power
• प्रभावानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन

• द्रुमप्राकारसंवृतम्: enclosed by a rampart of trees
• द्रुमप्राकारसंवृतम्: Karta-anvaya (कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्रुम+प्राकार+संवृत (प्रातिपदिक; √वृ क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (द्रुमैः प्राकारः, तेन संवृतम्) विशेषण (आश्रमः)

• आश्रमः: the hermitage
• आश्रमः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आश्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन

• सुदुराधर्षः: very hard to assail/approach
• सुदुराधर्षः: Karta-anvaya (कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु+दुराधर्ष (प्रातिपदिक; √धृष्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; उपसर्ग-पूर्वक तत्पुरुष/नञ्-रहितः; विशेषण (आश्रमः)

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha-dyotaka (सम्बन्ध-द्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अपवाद (even/also)

• सेन्द्रैः: together with Indra
• सेन्द्रैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स+इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहि (इन्द्रः सहिताः ये) विशेषण (सुरासुरैः)

• सुरासुरैः: by gods and demons
• सुरासुरैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर+असुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; द्वन्द्व-समासः (सुराश्च असुराश्च)

Context

'By virtue of the power of their penance, this hermitage surrounded by a row of trees is impenetrable even for demons and gods including Indra.

Characters & Entities

• āśrama (hermitage)
• druma (trees)
• Indra
• sura (gods)
• asura (demons)

FAQs

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

The sanctity created by dharmic tapas is protective: moral-spiritual power establishes boundaries that even the mighty should respect.

What is the narrative situation?

The hermitage is described as naturally fortified due to the ascetics’ spiritual power, warning outsiders against intrusion.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Reverence (śraddhā): acknowledging that spiritual authority can surpass worldly strength.