Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 46, Shloka 28

तमसातीरवासः

Night on the Bank of the Tamasa and the Stratagem to Elude the Citizens

Devanagari script

तं स्यन्दनमधिष्ठाय राघव स्सपरिच्छदः।शीघ्रगामाकुलावर्तां तमसामतरन्नदीम्।।2.46.28।।

Transliteration

taṁ syandanam adhiṣṭhāya rāghavaḥ sa-paricchadaḥ |

śīghra-gāmākulāvartāṁ tamasām ataran nadīm ||2.46.28||

Translation

Sumakay si Rāghava sa karwaheng iyon, dala ang mga kailangang gamit; at tinawid niya ang ilog Tamasā, mabilis ang agos at magulo sa mga alimpuyo.

Word by Word

• tam: that
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (pronoun/सर्वनाम), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• syandanam: chariot
• syandanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: syandana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• adhiṣṭhāya: having mounted
• adhiṣṭhāya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: adhi-√sthā (धातु)
• Form: Ktvānta (क्त्वान्त/absolutive), having done; Upasarga: adhi-; sense: 'having mounted/ascended'

• rāghavaḥ: Rāghava (Rama)
• rāghavaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāghava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• saparicchadaḥ: with belongings/retinue
• saparicchadaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa-paricchada (प्रातिपदिक: sa + paricchada)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) with prefix-like 'sa-' = 'with'; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with rāghavaḥ

• śīghragām: swift-flowing
• śīghragām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śīghragāmin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya (कर्मधारय) śīghra+gāmin; Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); qualifies nadīm

• ākulāvartām: turbulent with whirlpools
• ākulāvartām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ākulāvarta (प्रातिपदिक: ākula + āvarta)
• Form: Karmadhāraya (कर्मधारय); Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); qualifies nadīm

• tamasām: of Tamasa
• tamasām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tamasā (प्रातिपदिक; river-name)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• atarat: crossed
• atarat: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √tṝ (धातु)
• Form: Laṅ-lakāra (लङ्, imperfect/past), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• nadīm: river
• nadīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nadī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

Context

Rama (along with others) mounted the chariot with his belongings, crossed the rapidly flowing Tamasa agitated with whirlpools.

Characters & Entities

• Rama (Raghava)
• chariot (syandana)

FAQs

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

Perseverance in righteous duty: even difficult crossings become part of the disciplined path undertaken for truth and obligation.

What is the narrative situation?

Rama departs by chariot and crosses the Tamasa river on the way toward the forest.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Steadfastness—moving forward without wavering despite physical hardship and emotional weight.