Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 23, Shloka 1

कामाश्रम

प्रवेशः / Entry into Kāma’s Hermitage at the Sarayū–Gaṅgā Confluence

Devanagari script

प्रभातायां तु शर्वर्यां विश्वामित्रो महामुनि:।अभ्यभाषत काकुत्स्थौ शयानौ पर्णसंस्तरे।।।।

Transliteration

prabhātāyāṁ tu śarvaryāṁ viśvāmitro mahāmuniḥ |

abhyabhāṣata kākutsthau śayānau parṇasaṁstare || 1.23.1 ||

Translation

Khi đêm tàn và rạng đông vừa hé, đại hiền Viśvāmitra cất lời với hai Kakutstha (Rāma và Lakṣmaṇa) đang nằm nghỉ trên giường lá.

Word by Word

• kausalyā: (I am) Kausalyā
• kausalyā: Karta (कर्ता / Speaker)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kausalyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga; Prathamā-vibhakti, Ekavacana; संबोधनार्थे (used as speaker-identification)

• suprajā: O blessed one (good son)
• suprajā: Sambodhana (सम्बोधनम् / Vocative address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: su (उपसर्ग/उपपद) + prajā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga; Prathamā-vibhakti, Ekavacana; बहुव्रीह्यर्थे विशेषणवत्—'good offspring' i.e., 'blessed with a good son' (vocative sense implied)

• rāma: O Rāma
• rāma: Sambodhana (सम्बोधनम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga; Sambodhana (Vocative/सम्बोधन), Ekavacana

• pūrvā: early / morning
• pūrvā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pūrva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga; Prathamā-vibhakti, Ekavacana; विशेषणम् (qualifies sandhyā)

• sandhyā: twilight (dawn)
• sandhyā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sandhyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga; Prathamā-vibhakti, Ekavacana

• pravartate: is commencing / is proceeding
• pravartate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√vṛt (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (Present); Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana; Ātmanepada

• uttiṣṭha: rise / wake up
• uttiṣṭha: Kriyā (क्रिया / Command)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ud-√sthā (धातु)
• Form: Loṭ-lakāra (Imperative); Madhyama-puruṣa (2nd), Ekavacana; Parasmaipada

• nara-śārdūla: O tiger among men
• nara-śārdūla: Sambodhana (सम्बोधनम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara (प्रातिपदिक) + śārdūla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga; Sambodhana (Vocative), Ekavacana; उपमान-तत्पुरुषः (narāṇāṃ śārdūlaḥ) = 'tiger among men'

• kartavyam: must be done
• kartavyam: Vidheyabhāva (विधेयभावः / Predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √kṛ (धातु) → kartavya (कृदन्त, तव्यत्)
• Form: Napुṃsaka; Prathamā-vibhakti, Ekavacana; विधेय-विशेषणम् (predicative); तव्यत्-प्रत्यय (gerundive) = 'to be done/should be done'

• daivam: (rite) for the gods / divine offering
• daivam: Karma (कर्म / Thing to be done)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुṃsaka; Prathamā-vibhakti, Ekavacana; कर्मधार्य-सम्बन्धेन आह्निकस्य विशेषणम् (daivam āhnikam)

• āhnikam: daily religious duty
• āhnikam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āhnika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुṃsaka; Prathamā-vibhakti, Ekavacana; 'daily rite'

Context

Then bows in hand, wellattired, their fingers encased in mongrel skin, for protection (against the bowstring) armed with scimitars, resplendent, young, handsome the two brothers, Rama and Lakshmana shone unblemished. As they followed sage Viswamitra spreading radiance, they looked like sons of the god of fire, (Skanda and Visakhu) following the incomprehensible Siva.

Characters & Entities

• Viśvāmitra
• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa

FAQs

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

Learning dharma through guidance: the scene establishes the guru’s role in shaping righteous conduct and knowledge in the disciples.

What is the narrative situation?

After halting for the night, at daybreak Viśvāmitra begins speaking to the resting princes, setting up the next teaching/story.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Receptivity and discipline in students: the princes live simply and remain attentive to instruction.