Shloka 17

पञ्चाप्सरो-सरः कथनम् तथा अगस्त्याश्रममार्गनिर्देशः

Panchapsara Lake Account and Directions to Agastya

Devanagari script

ताश्चैवाप्सरसः पञ्च मुनेः पत्नीत्वमागताः।।।।तटाके निर्मितं तासामस्मिन्नन्तर्हितं गृहम्।

Transliteration

tāś caivāpsarasaḥ pañca muneḥ patnītvam āgatāḥ |

taṭāke nirmitaṃ tāsām asminn antarhitaṃ gṛham ||

Translation

ਉਹ ਪੰਜੋਂ ਅਪਸਰਾਵਾਂ ਵੀ ਮੁਨੀ ਦੀਆਂ ਪਤਨੀਆਂ ਦੇ ਪਦ ਨੂੰ ਪ੍ਰਾਪਤ ਹੋਈਆਂ। ਉਸ ਤਟਾਕ ਵਿੱਚ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਲਈ ਇੱਕ ਗ੍ਰਿਹ ਬਣਾਇਆ ਗਿਆ ਸੀ, ਜੋ ਇੱਥੇ ਨਜ਼ਰੋਂ ਅੰਤਰਹਿਤ (ਲੁਕਿਆ) ਰਹਿੰਦਾ ਸੀ।

Word by Word

• ताः: those (women)
• ताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (emphasis/indeed)

• अप्सरसः: apsarases
• अप्सरसः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: apsaras (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• पञ्च: five
• पञ्च: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pañca (अव्यय/संख्याशब्द)
• Form: संख्यावाचक (indeclinable numeral)

• मुनेः: of the sage
• मुनेः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• पत्नीत्वम्: the state of being wives
• पत्नीत्वम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: patnītva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• आगताः: attained; became
• आगताः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√gam (धातु) + kta (कृत्)
• Form: कृत्प्रत्ययान्त (past active sense participle/क्त used intransitively), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; 'came to/attained'

• तटाके: in the lake
• तटाके: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: taṭāka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/locative), एकवचन

• निर्मितम्: built
• निर्मितम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nir-√mā (धातु) + kta (कृत्)
• Form: कृत्प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle/क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (of 'gṛham')

• तासाम्: for them; of them
• तासाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन

• अस्मिन्: in this
• अस्मिन्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• अन्तर्हितम्: hidden; invisible
• अन्तर्हितम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: antar-√dhā (धातु) + kta (कृत्)
• Form: कृत्प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle/क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (of 'gṛham')

• गृहम्: a house
• गृहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gṛha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

Context

The five apsaras, got the status of wives to the sage who built them an invisible home inside the lake.

Characters & Entities

• apsarasaḥ (apsarases)
• muni (sage)
• taṭāka (lake/pond)

FAQs

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

The verse highlights a fall from ascetic dharma into domestic attachment under temptation, reminding that life-stages (āśramas) demand integrity and clarity of purpose.

What is the narrative situation?

After the sage is overcome, the apsarases become his wives and a concealed residence is established in a lake.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The implied virtue is steadfastness to one’s vow (vrata) and chosen discipline; the episode shows its erosion through indulgence.