Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 48, Shloka 11

अहल्याशापवर्णनम्

The Account of Ahalyā’s Curse and the Deserted Hermitage near Mithilā

Devanagari script

मिथिलोपवने शून्यमाश्रमं दृश्य राघव:।।।।पुराणं निर्जनं रम्यं पप्रच्छ मुनिपुङ्गवम्।

Transliteration

mithilopavane śūnyam āśramaṃ dṛśya rāghavaḥ || purāṇaṃ nirjanaṃ ramyaṃ papraccha munipuṅgavam |

Translation

மிதிலையின் உபவனத்தில் ராகவன் ஒரு பழமையான, அழகிய, ஆனால் நிர்ஜனமாக வெறிச்சோடிய ஆசிரமத்தைப் பார்த்து, அதைப்பற்றி முனிவருள் சிறந்த விஸ்வாமித்திரரை வினவினான்.

Word by Word

• mithilā-upavane: in the grove near Mithilā
• mithilā-upavane: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mithilā (प्रातिपदिक) + upavana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; ṣaṣṭhī-tatpuruṣa: 'in the grove of/near Mithilā'

• śūnyam: empty, deserted
• śūnyam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śūnya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; qualifying āśramam

• āśramam: hermitage
• āśramam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āśrama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• dṛśya: having seen
• dṛśya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dṛś (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यप्), 'having seen'

• rāghavaḥ: Rāma
• rāghavaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāghava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• purāṇam: ancient
• purāṇam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: purāṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; qualifying āśramam (understood)

• nirjanam: uninhabited
• nirjanam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nirjana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; qualifying āśramam

• ramyam: beautiful
• ramyam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ramya (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Napumsaka, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; qualifying āśramam

• papraccha: asked
• papraccha: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√prach (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ (लिट्, perfect), Parasmaipada, Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Eka-vacana (singular)

• muni-puṅgavam: the foremost sage
• muni-puṅgavam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (प्रातिपदिक) + puṅgava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; tatpuruṣa: 'bull among sages' (श्रेष्ठ)

Context

At the sight of an old uninhabited, beautiful and desolate hermitage in a grove near Mithila, the descendant of the Raghus enquired of the foremost among the ascetics(Viswamitra):

Characters & Entities

• Mithilā
• Rāma
• Viśvāmitra
• āśrama (hermitage)

FAQs

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

Dharma values thoughtful inquiry and respect for sacred places: Rāma does not ignore the deserted hermitage but seeks the truth behind it from a qualified teacher.

What is the narrative situation?

As the party approaches Mithilā, Rāma notices an abandoned āśrama and asks Viśvāmitra to explain its history.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s attentiveness and humility—he observes carefully and asks a sage for truthful explanation rather than speculating.