Valmiki Ramayana 3.13.27 — Aranya Kanda, Sarga 13, Shloka 27

पञ्चवटी-निर्देशः

Agastya Directs Rama to Panchavati

Devanagari script

गृहीतचापौ तु नराधिपात्मजौ विषक्ततूणौ समरेष्वकातरौ।यथोपदिष्टेन पथा महर्षिणा प्रजग्मतुः पञ्चवटीं समाहितौ।।।।

Transliteration

gṛhītacāpau tu narādhipātmajau viṣaktatūṇau samareṣv akātarau | yathopadiṣṭena pathā maharṣiṇā prajagmatuḥ pañcavaṭīṃ samāhitau ||

Translation

Два царевича, сыновья царя,—с луками в руках, с колчанами на плечах, бесстрашные в сражениях,—собранно направились в Панчавати путем, указанным великим риши.

Word by Word

• gṛhītacāpau: holding bows
• gṛhītacāpau: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gṛhīta (√grah) + cāpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Dual (द्विवचन); tatpuruṣa: 'having taken/holding bows'

• tu: and/but
• tu: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; particle

• narādhipātmajau: the two princes
• narādhipātmajau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara-adhipa (प्रातिपदिक) + ātmaja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Dual (द्विवचन); tatpuruṣa: 'sons of the king'

• viṣaktatūṇau: with quivers fastened
• viṣaktatūṇau: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: viṣakta (√sañj/√saj) + tūṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Dual (द्विवचन); 'with quivers fastened'

• samareṣu: in battles
• samareṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: samara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (सप्तमी/7), Plural (बहुवचन)

• akātarau: unafraid
• akātarau: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-kātara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Dual (द्विवचन); negative adjective

• yathā: as, according to
• yathā: Prakāra (प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; manner/comparison

• upadiṣṭēna: as instructed
• upadiṣṭēna: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: upa-√diś (दिश् धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Napumsaka/Masculine, Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with 'pathā' (instrumental)

• pathā: by the path
• pathā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: patha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Singular (एकवचन)

• maharṣiṇā: by the great sage
• maharṣiṇā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + ṛṣi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Singular (एकवचन); karmadhāraya: 'great sage'

• prajagmatuḥ: proceeded
• prajagmatuḥ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√gam (गम् धातु)
• Form: Lakāra: Liṭ (लिट्, perfect), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), Purusha: 3rd (प्रथमपुरुष), Vachana: Dual (द्विवचन)

• pañcavaṭīṃ: to Pañcavaṭī
• pañcavaṭīṃ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pañca (संख्या) + vaṭī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• samāhitau: composed, attentive
• samāhitau: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sam-ā-√dhā (धा धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Dual (द्विवचन); 'composed/attentive'

Context

Your wife is free from such blemishes. She is praiseworthy and worthy of mention as an example just like the revered Arundhati.

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Lakshmana
• Agastya (maharshi)
• Panchavati
• bows
• quivers

FAQs

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

Dharma as disciplined readiness: righteous protectors remain vigilant and composed, even while following peaceful, sage-given guidance.

What is the narrative situation?

The narration summarizes Rama and Lakshmana’s armed yet composed journey to Panchavati, completing the sarga’s movement.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Courage without agitation—fearlessness (abhaya) joined with composure (samādhāna).