Shloka 1

पञ्चाप्सरो-सरः कथनम् तथा अगस्त्याश्रममार्गनिर्देशः

Panchapsara Lake Account and Directions to Agastya

Devanagari script

अग्रतः प्रययौ रामस्सीता मध्ये सुमध्यमा।पृष्ठतस्तु धनुष्पाणिर्लक्ष्मणोऽनुजगाम ह।।।।

Transliteration

agrataḥ prayayau rāmas sītā madhye sumadhyamā |

pṛṣṭhatas tu dhanuṣpāṇir lakṣmaṇo 'nujagāma ha ||

Translation

अग्रतः रामः प्रययौ; मध्ये सुमध्यमा सीता; पृष्ठतः धनुष्पाणिर्लक्ष्मणोऽनुजगाम ह।

Word by Word

• agrataḥ: in front
• agrataḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध; adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: agratas (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय (locative adverb)

• prayayau: went forth
• prayayau: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-i (इ धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• rāmaḥ: Rama
• rāmaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• sītā: Sita
• sītā: Karta (कर्ता; coordinated subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sītā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• madhye: in the middle
• madhye: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: madhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; location

• sumadhyamā: slender-waisted
• sumadhyamā: Karta (कर्ता; subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su-madhyamā (प्रातिपदिक; components: सु + मध्यम)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; qualifying sītā

• pṛṣṭhataḥ: from behind
• pṛṣṭhataḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध; adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: pṛṣṭhatas (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय = 'from behind/behind'

• tu: and/but
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/पक्षान्तर

• dhanuṣpāṇiḥ: bow-in-hand (one holding a bow)
• dhanuṣpāṇiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhanuṣ-pāṇi (प्रातिपदिक; components: धनुस् + पाणि)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; epithet of Lakṣmaṇa

• lakṣmaṇaḥ: Lakshmana
• lakṣmaṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lakṣmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• anujagāma: followed
• anujagāma: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: anu-gam (अनुगम् धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• ha: indeed (narrative particle)
• ha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ha (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात; narrative emphasis

Context

Rama walked in front, Sita with a beautiful waist, in the middle and Lakshmana holding the bow, behind them৷৷

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Sītā
• Lakṣmaṇa
• dhanuṣ (bow)

FAQs

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

Dharma appears as maryādā (proper order and protective responsibility): the armed guardian stays vigilant while ensuring Sītā’s safety.

What is the narrative situation?

The trio proceeds through the forest, with Rāma leading and Lakṣmaṇa guarding from behind.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Lakṣmaṇa’s vigilance and protective devotion; Rāma’s leadership.