Valmiki Ramayana 3.13.12 — Aranya Kanda, Sarga 13, Shloka 12

पञ्चवटी-निर्देशः

Agastya Directs Rama to Panchavati

Devanagari script

ततोऽब्रवीन्मुनिश्रेष्ठश्श्रुत्वा रामस्य तद्वचः।ध्यात्वा मुहूर्तं धर्मात्मा धीरो धीरतरं वचः।।।।

Transliteration

tato ’bravīn muniśreṣṭhaḥ śrutvā rāmasya tad-vacaḥ | dhyātvā muhūrtaṃ dharmātmā dhīro dhīrataraṃ vacaḥ ||

Translation

Тогда лучший из мудрецов, праведный духом и спокойный, услышав слова Рамы, на миг задумался и произнёс речь ещё более сдержанную и весомую.

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (कालवाचक अव्यय)

• abravīt: said
• abravīt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √brū (धातु)
• Form: Luṅ (लुङ्, aorist), Prathama-puruṣa, Singular, Parasmaipada

• muni-śreṣṭhaḥ: best of sages
• muni-śreṣṭhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (प्रातिपदिक) + śreṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa compound; Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• śrutvā: having heard
• śrutvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śru (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा)

• rāmasya: of Rama
• rāmasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• tat: that
• tat: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma-adjective, Neuter, Accusative, Singular; qualifying vacaḥ

• vacaḥ: speech/words
• vacaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• dhyātvā: having reflected
• dhyātvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dhyai (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा)

• muhūrtam: for a moment
• muhūrtam: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muhūrta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular; duration (कालाधिकरणे द्वितीया)

• dharmātmā: righteous-souled
• dharmātmā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma-ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Bahuvrīhi compound; Masculine, Nominative, Singular; epithet of muniśreṣṭhaḥ

• dhīraḥ: steadfast
• dhīraḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dhīra (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; epithet

• dhīrataram: more grave
• dhīrataram: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dhīratara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Comparative degree (तर), Neuter, Accusative, Singular; qualifying vacaḥ

• vacaḥ: speech/words
• vacaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacas (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular; object of abravīt (understood)

Context

On hearing the words of Rama, Agastya, the best among the sages, cool-headed and righteous, thought a while and uttered these words coolly :

Characters & Entities

• Agastya
• Rāma

FAQs

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

Deliberation before speech: dharma values thoughtful counsel—truth and benefit delivered with composure.

What is the narrative situation?

Agastya hears Rāma’s request for a dwelling-place, pauses to consider, and begins his reply.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Wisdom and self-control (dhairya): Agastya models measured judgment rather than impulsive response.