Shloka 1

तापसाश्रममण्डलदर्शनम्

Entering Dandaka and Meeting the Sages

Devanagari script

प्रविश्य तु महारण्यं दण्डकारण्यमात्मवान्।ददर्श रामो दुर्धर्षस्तापसाश्रममण्डलम्।।।।

Transliteration

praviśya tu mahāraṇyaṁ daṇḍakāraṇyam ātmavān |

dadarśa rāmo durdharṣas tāpasāśrama-maṇḍalam || 3.1.1 ||

Translation

Bước vào đại hoang dã Dandaka, đức Rāma tự tại, bất khả chiến bại, liền thấy một vùng rộng lớn các đạo tràng tịnh thất của ẩn sĩ.

Word by Word

• praviśya: having entered
• praviśya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√viś (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive), अव्यय-प्रयोग; 'having entered'

• tu: then/indeed
• tu: Sambandha/Avadhāraṇa (सम्बन्ध/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle)

• mahāraṇyam: great forest
• mahāraṇyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + araṇya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• daṇḍakāraṇyam: Dandaka forest
• daṇḍakāraṇyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daṇḍaka (प्रातिपदिक) + araṇya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; नाम-तत्पुरुषः (proper-name compound)

• ātmavān: self-possessed
• ātmavān: Kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृसमानाधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ātman (प्रातिपदिक) + -vant (तद्धित)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; 'self-possessed'

• dadarśa: saw
• dadarśa: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dṛś (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

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

• durdharṣaḥ: invincible
• durdharṣaḥ: Kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृसमानाधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dur (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + dharṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; 'hard to assail'

• tāpasāśramamaṇḍalam: cluster of ascetics' hermitages
• tāpasāśramamaṇḍalam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tāpasa (प्रातिपदिक) + āśrama (प्रातिपदिक) + maṇḍala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः: 'circle/cluster of ascetics' hermitages'

Context

The invincible and self-possessed Rama entered the great forest of Dandaka and saw there a multitude of hermitages of the ascetics.

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Daṇḍakāraṇya (Dandaka forest)
• mahāraṇya (great forest)

FAQs

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

Dharma as guardianship and restraint: Rama’s self-mastery and strength are directed toward entering a sacred ascetic landscape, where power serves protection rather than domination.

What is the narrative situation?

At the opening of Araṇyakāṇḍa, Rama enters Daṇḍakāraṇya and beholds many hermitages of ascetics.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Ātma-saṁyama (self-control) joined with courage—Rama is both self-possessed and invincible, fit to uphold dharma in a dangerous wilderness.