Shloka 68

पञ्चाप्सरो-सरः कथनम् तथा अगस्त्याश्रममार्गनिर्देशः

Panchapsara Lake Account and Directions to Agastya

Devanagari script

तस्यायमाश्रमो भ्रातुस्तटाकवनशोभितः।।।।विप्रानुकम्पया येन कर्मेदं दुष्करं कृतम्।

Transliteration

tasyāyam āśramo bhrātus taṭākavanaśobhitaḥ | viprānukampayā yena karmedaṃ duṣkaraṃ kṛtam || 3.11.68 ||

Translation

此乃他兄长的道场，湖泊与林木相映成辉；正是他出于怜悯婆罗门，成就了这等艰难之业。

Word by Word

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक; षष्ठी (Genitive); एकवचन

• अयम्: this
• अयम्: Karta (कर्ता; deictic subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (Nominative); एकवचन

• आश्रमः: hermitage
• आश्रमः: Karta (कर्ता; predicate subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आश्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन

• भ्रातुः: of (his) brother
• भ्रातुः: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भ्रातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी (Genitive); एकवचन

• तटाकवनशोभितः: adorned with lakes and forests
• तटाकवनशोभितः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तटाक + वन + शोभित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (instrumental sense: तटाकवनैः शोभितः); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन; (आश्रमः इति विशेषणम्)

• विप्रानुकम्पया: through compassion for brahmins
• विप्रानुकम्पया: Hetu/Karana (हेतु/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र + अनुकम्पा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (विप्रेषु अनुकम्पा); स्त्रीलिङ्ग; तृतीया (Instrumental); एकवचन; हेतौ/साधन (by/through compassion)

• येन: by whom
• येन: Karana (करण; by whom)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक; तृतीया (Instrumental); एकवचन

• कर्म: deed
• कर्म: Karta (कर्ता; subject of passive kṛtam)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (Nominative); एकवचन

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया; एकवचन; अत्र प्रथमा (कर्म इति विशेषणम्)

• दुष्करम्: difficult
• दुष्करम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुष्कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन; (कर्म इति विशेषणम्)

• कृतम्: done
• कृतम्: Kriya (क्रिया; passive predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive sense: ‘was done’)

Context

This hermitage surrounded by beautiful lakes and forests belongs to his brother (Sudarsana). Out of sympathy for Agastya, he has accomplished this difficult task.

Characters & Entities

• āśrama (hermitage)
• taṭāka (lakes)
• vana (forests)
• vipra (brahmins)

FAQs

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

Anukampā (compassion) toward the righteous—especially those devoted to learning and ritual—is presented as a dhārmic motive that can justify and empower difficult protective actions.

What is the narrative situation?

The narration points to a hermitage associated with the episode, describing it as naturally beautiful and linked to a hard-won protective accomplishment.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Compassion joined with resolve: the ability to undertake ‘duṣkara’ (hard) work for the welfare of others, aligning power with dharma.