Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 63, Shloka 19

दशरथस्य शोकानुचिन्तनं शब्धवेधि-दोषस्मरणं च

Daśaratha’s grief, karmic reflection, and the remembered ‘śabdavedhī’ misdeed

Devanagari script

पाण्डुरारुणवर्णानि स्रोतांसि विमलान्यपि।सुस्रुवुर्गिरिधातुभ्यस्सभस्मानि भुजङ्गवत्।।2.63.19।।

Transliteration

pāṇḍurāruṇa-varṇāni srotāṃsi vimalāny api | susruvur giri-dhātubhyaḥ sa-bhasmāni bhujaṅgavat || 2.63.19 ||

Translation

即便本来澄净的溪流，也因山中矿质而呈现苍白与微红之色，蜿蜒奔流如蛇，仿佛夹杂着灰烬。

Word by Word

• pāṇḍurāruṇa-varṇāni: of pale and reddish color
• pāṇḍurāruṇa-varṇāni: Kartā-viśeṣaṇa (कर्तृविशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pāṇḍura (प्रातिपदिक) + aruṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + varṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya: पाण्डुरश्च अरुणश्च (यः) वर्णः तानि; Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); qualifying srotāṃsi

• srotāṃsi: streams/flows
• srotāṃsi: Kartā (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: srotas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• vimalāni: clear/pure
• vimalāni: Kartā-viśeṣaṇa (कर्तृविशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vimala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); qualifying srotāṃsi

• api: even/also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (सम्भावना/अपि = ‘even/also’)

• susruvuḥ: flowed
• susruvuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sru (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन)

• giri-dhātubhyaḥ: from the mountain-minerals/ores
• giri-dhātubhyaḥ: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: giri (प्रातिपदिक) + dhātu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (षष्ठी): गिरेः धातुभ्यः; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• sa-bhasmāni: mixed with ash
• sa-bhasmāni: Kartā-viśeṣaṇa (कर्तृविशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (अव्यय/उपसर्गार्थ ‘with’) + bhasman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); ‘with ash’; qualifying srotāṃsi

• bhujaṅgavat: like a serpent
• bhujaṅgavat: Upamā (उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: bhujaṅga (प्रातिपदिक) + vat (तद्धित)
• Form: Simile adverb (वत्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययप्राय)

Context

Indra-like Dasaratha due to banishment of Rama and Lakshmana, was besieged by a great calamity like the Sun enveloped by demonic dark at the time of eclipse.

Characters & Entities

• Serpent (bhujaṅga) (simile)

FAQs

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

Dharma requires discernment: what seems pure can be altered by unseen mixtures—an ethical reminder to verify before acting, not to rely on surface impressions.

What is the narrative situation?

Rains swell mountain runoffs; minerals tint the waters, creating striking colors and serpentine flows.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Prudence—careful judgment in uncertain conditions, a virtue Daśaratha will later recognize he failed to uphold.