Shloka 21

पञ्चाप्सरो-सरः कथनम् तथा अगस्त्याश्रममार्गनिर्देशः

Panchapsara Lake Account and Directions to Agastya

Devanagari script

एवं कथयमानस्य ददर्शाश्रममण्डलम्।।।।कुशचीरपरिक्षिप्तं ब्राह्म्या लक्ष्म्या समावृतम्।

Transliteration

evaṃ kathayamānasya dadarśāśramamaṇḍalam |

kuśacīraparikṣiptaṃ brāhmyā lakṣmyā samāvṛtam ||

Translation

இவ்வாறு உரைத்துக் கொண்டிருந்த ராமன், ஆசிரமப் பரப்பைக் கண்டான்—குசைத் தழையும் வல்கல ஆடைகளும் சூழ்ந்தது; அமைதியான பிராமணத் தேஜஸின் புனித ஒளியால் நிறைந்தது।

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (thus)

• कथयमानस्य: while speaking
• कथयमानस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kath (धातु) (णिच्) + śāna (कृत्)
• Form: शानच्/आन (present middle participle), पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; 'while (he was) narrating/speaking'

• ददर्श: saw
• ददर्श: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dṛś (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• आश्रममण्डलम्: the hermitage precinct
• आश्रममण्डलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āśrama + maṇḍala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (आश्रमस्य मण्डलम् = 'precinct of the hermitage')

• कुशचीरपरिक्षिप्तम्: surrounded by kuśa and bark-cloth
• कुशचीरपरिक्षिप्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kuśa + cīra + parikṣipta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कृत्प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle/क्त: parikṣipta), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (कुशचीरैः परिक्षिप्तम् = 'surrounded with kuśa and bark-garments'); विशेषण (of 'āśramamaṇḍalam')

• ब्राह्म्या: with brahminical
• ब्राह्म्या: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: brāhmī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; विशेषण (of 'lakṣmyā')

• लक्ष्म्या: grace; splendour
• लक्ष्म्या: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lakṣmī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन

• समावृतम्: covered; pervaded
• समावृतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sam-ā-√vṛ (धातु) + kta (कृत्)
• Form: कृत्प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle/क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (of 'āśramamaṇḍalam')

Context

When the sage Dharmabrata was telling the story, Rama saw a hermitage strewn all over with kusa grass and bark garments, and endowed with pure brahminic grace.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma (implied as observer)
• āśrama (hermitage)
• kuśa (sacred grass)
• cīra (bark garments)

FAQs

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

Honoring sacred spaces and āśrama-dharma: the hermitage is portrayed as a locus of disciplined living, purity, and truth-oriented practice.

What is the narrative situation?

During the narration, Rāma comes within sight of the hermitage compound marked by ascetic symbols.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Respect for spiritual discipline: recognizing and valuing the signs of tapas and brahminical sanctity.