Shloka 7

तापसाश्रममण्डलदर्शनम्

Entering Dandaka and Meeting the Sages

Devanagari script

बलिहोमार्चितं पुण्यं ब्रह्मघोषनिनादितम्।पुष्पैश्चान्यैः परिक्षिप्तं पद्मिन्या च सपद्मया।।3.1.6।।फलमूलाशनैर्दान्तैश्चीरकृष्णाजिनाम्बरैः।सूर्यवैश्वानराभैश्च पुराणैर्मुनिभिर्वुतम्।।3.1.7।।

Transliteration

phalamūlāśanair dāntaiś cīra-kṛṣṇājināmbaraiḥ |

sūrya-vaiśvānarābhaiś ca purāṇair munibhir vṛtam ||

Translation

Napapaligiran ito ng matatandang muni—mapagpigil, namumuhay sa prutas at ugat, nakadamit ng balat ng punò at itim na balat ng usa—nagniningning na gaya ng araw at ng apoy.

Word by Word

• phala-mūla-āśanaiḥ: with those who subsist on fruits and roots
• phala-mūla-āśanaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: phala (प्रातिपदिक) + mūla (प्रातिपदिक) + āśana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instr/करण), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘फलमूलम् आशनम् येषाम्’ (fruit-root eaters)

• dāntaiḥ: self-restrained
• dāntaiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dānta (कृदन्त; √dam धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instr), बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्यय; ‘मुनिभिः’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• cīra-kṛṣṇa-ajina-ambaraiḥ: wearing bark and black-antelope-skin garments
• cīra-kṛṣṇa-ajina-ambaraiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: cīra (प्रातिपदिक) + kṛṣṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + ajina (प्रातिपदिक) + ambara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instr), बहुवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष: ‘चीरं कृष्णाजिनं अम्बरं येषाम्’ (wearing bark-cloth and black-antelope skin garments)

• sūrya-vaiśvānara-ābhaiḥ: with radiance like the sun and fire
• sūrya-vaiśvānara-ābhaiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sūrya (प्रातिपदिक) + vaiśvānara (प्रातिपदिक) + ābhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (आभा), तृतीया (Instr), बहुवचन; द्वन्द्व: ‘सूर्यस्य च वैश्वानरस्य च आभाः’ = with sun-and-fire-like radiance

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya-dyotaka (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय

• purāṇaiḥ: aged, ancient
• purāṇaiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: purāṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instr), बहुवचन; ‘मुनिभिः’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम् (aged/ancient)

• munibhiḥ: with sages
• munibhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instr/करण), बहुवचन

• vṛtam: surrounded
• vṛtam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vṛta (कृदन्त; √vṛ धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्यय

Context

The courtyards (of the hermitages) were clean-swept, sprinkled with water and decorated. They provided shelter to all kinds of creatures and were filled all over with flocks of birds and antelopes.

Characters & Entities

• muni (sage)
• sūrya (sun)
• vaiśvānara (fire)
• cīra (bark cloth)

FAQs

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

Dharma is embodied in tapas and restraint: the sages’ truth-disciplined lives (simple food, simple clothing, self-control) generate a moral radiance compared to sun and fire.

What is the narrative situation?

The description culminates by portraying the residents themselves—the venerable munis—as the living sanctity of the hermitage.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Self-mastery (dama) and austerity (tapas) are emphasized, presenting ascetic integrity as a source of spiritual ‘light’.