Valmiki Ramayana 1.2.4: Bala Kanda, Sarga 2, Shloka 4

द्वितीयः सर्गः · श्लोकप्रादुर्भावः

The Manifestation of the Śloka

Setting: Tamasā riverbank (Tamasā-tīra)Places named: TamasāApproach to bathing-place (tīrtha) during āśrama outing

Devanagari script

स तु तीरं समासाद्य तमसाया महामुनिः ।

शिष्यमाह स्थितं पार्श्वे दृष्ट्वा तीर्थमकर्दमम् ॥४॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 1.2.4

Transliteration

sa tu tīraṁ samāsādya tamasāyā mahāmuniḥ |

śiṣyam āha sthitaṁ pārśve dṛṣṭvā tīrtham akardamam ||4||

Translation

Gdy wielki mędrzec dotarł do brzegu rzeki Tamasy i ujrzał czyste miejsce kąpielowe wolne od błota, przemówił do ucznia stojącego u jego boku.

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Word by Word

• saḥ: he
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma; Masculine, Nominative Singular
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• tu: then/indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; particle (निपात)
• Role: Nipāta (निपात)

• tīram: bank
• Type: Noun
• Root: tīra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative Singular
• Role: Karma (कर्म) / Gati-karman (गतिकर्म)

• samāsādya: having reached
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam + ā + sad (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा-ल्यप् form); "having reached"
• Role: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)

• tamasāyāḥ: of (river) Tamasā
• Type: Noun
• Root: tamasā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Genitive Singular
• Role: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)

• mahāmuniḥ: the great sage
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + muni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya: mahān muniḥ; Masculine, Nominative Singular
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)
• Compound: Karmadharaya

• śiṣyam: the disciple
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiṣya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative Singular
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• āha: said
• Type: Verb
• Root: ah (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ (लिट्, perfect), Parasmaipada; 3rd person Singular
• Role: Kriyā (क्रिया)

• sthitam: standing
• Type: Verb
• Root: sthā (धातु) + kta (कृत्)
• Form: PPP (क्त); Masculine, Accusative Singular; qualifies śiṣyam
• Role: Karma-viśeṣaṇa (कर्म-विशेषण)

• pārśve: at the side
• Type: Noun
• Root: pārśva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter/Masculine, Locative (सप्तमी) Singular; "at the side"
• Role: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देश-अधिकरण)

• dṛṣṭvā: having seen
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा); "having seen"
• Role: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)

• tīrtham: ford/holy bathing-place
• Type: Noun
• Root: tīrtha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative Singular
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• akardamam: mud-free, clear
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a- (नञ्) + kardama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adjective; Neuter, Accusative Singular; agrees with tīrtham
• Role: Karma-viśeṣaṇa (कर्म-विशेषण)

Sandhi Notes

• śiṣyamāha → śiṣyam + āha

Context

The eminent sage Valmiki reached the bank of Tamasa and seen a descent into the river with pellucid waters, spoke to the disciple standing by the side.

The teaching

Purity of place and mind prepares the ground for insight; the guru directs attention to what is fit for sacred action (snāna, observation).

Ethical theme

Ācāra / śauca (conduct and purity)

For your practice

Encourages tīrtha-smaraṇa and mindful approach to purification practices; supports contemplative nature-witnessing as sādhana.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Shanta (peace), with Adbhuta (wonder)

Mood

Pastoral, clear, contemplative

Themes

• Itihasa
• Dharma
• Purity
• Āśrama-life
• Sacred geography

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Vālmīki
• Tamasā (river)
• tīrtha (bathing-place/ford)
• disciple (Bharadvāja, implied by continuation)

FAQs

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

Dharma is linked with purity and disciplined living: the sage seeks a clean tīrtha for bathing, reflecting inner and outer cleanliness as supportive of righteous life.

What is the narrative situation?

Vālmīki arrives at the river Tamasā, notices an ideal bathing spot, and begins instructing his disciple beside him.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Mindful discernment (viveka): Vālmīki observes the environment carefully and chooses what is pure and fitting for a sage’s conduct.