Ramayana — Kishkindha Kanda, Sarga 13, Shloka 7

Saptajana-āśrama Darśana and the Approach to Kiṣkindhā

Hermitage of Seven Sages; March toward Vāli’s Capital

Devanagari script

वैढूर्यविमलै:पर्णै पद्मैश्चाकोशकुट्मलैः।शोभितांत्सजलान्मार्गे तटाकांश्च व्यलोकयन्।।

Transliteration

vaiḍūrya-vimalaiḥ parṇaiḥ padmaiś cākośa-kuṭmalaiḥ | śobhitāṃs sajalān mārge taṭākāṃś ca vyalokayan ||

Translation

ਰਾਹ ਵਿੱਚ ਉਹਨਾਂ ਨੇ ਜਲ ਨਾਲ ਭਰੇ ਸਰੋਵਰ ਵੇਖੇ, ਜੋ ਵੈਢੂਰਯ ਮਣੀ ਵਰਗੇ ਨਿਰਮਲ ਤੇ ਚਮਕਦਾਰ ਪੱਤਿਆਂ ਅਤੇ ਕੋਸ਼ ਵਿੱਚ ਬੰਦ ਕਲੀਆਂ ਵਾਲੇ ਕਮਲਾਂ ਨਾਲ ਸੁਸ਼ੋਭਿਤ ਸਨ।

Word by Word

• वैढूर्यविमलैः: clear like vaidūrya (cat's-eye gem)
• वैढूर्यविमलैः: करण-विशेषण (Karaṇa-viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वैढूर्य-विमल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमासः (वैढूर्यवत् विमलैः); नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन (पर्णैः इति विशेषण)

• पर्णैः: with leaves
• पर्णैः: करण (Karaṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• पद्मैः: with lotuses
• पद्मैः: करण (Karaṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय

• आकोशकुट्मलैः: with half-open buds
• आकोशकुट्मलैः: करण-विशेषण (Karaṇa-viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ-कोश-कुट्मल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमासः (आकोशः = अल्पविकसितः; कुट्मलैः = कलीरूपैः); नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन (पद्मैः इति विशेषण)

• शोभितान्: adorned, beautiful
• शोभितान्: कर्म-विशेषण (Karma-viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शोभित (प्रातिपदिक; शोभ् (धातु) क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन (तटाकान् इति विशेषण)

• सजलान्: full of water
• सजलान्: कर्म-विशेषण (Karma-viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स-जल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष/उपपदसमासः (जलेन सह/जलं यस्मिन्); पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन (तटाकान् इति विशेषण)

• मार्गे: on the way
• मार्गे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मार्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• तटाकान्: tanks, ponds
• तटाकान्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तटाक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय

• व्यलोकयन्: observing, looking at
• व्यलोकयन्: क्रिया (Kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-अवलोक् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (present participle) क्रियार्थे; पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (कर्ता-सम्बन्धः, ‘he/they while going’); परस्मैपद-धातु

Context

Observing on the way delightful lotus buds with leaves like Vaidurya, clear water and full tanks (They moved on).

Characters & Entities

• vaidūrya (gem)
• lotus (padma)

FAQs

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

The verse supports a dharmic sensibility of restraint and appreciation: even in a mission, the travelers do not trample beauty; they recognize purity (prasannatā) and order in nature.

What is the narrative situation?

As the party advances, the poet highlights serene water-tanks with lotuses and gem-like leaves, enriching the travel episode before the confrontation at Kiṣkindhā.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Refinement and attentiveness—maintaining clarity of mind and aesthetic awareness while pursuing a righteous objective.