Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 24, Shloka 12

गङ्गा–सरयू-सङ्गमः, मलद–करूश-देशकथा, ताटकावनप्रवेशोपदेशः

The Confluence of Gaṅgā and Sarayū; the Tale of Malada–Karūśa; Counsel on Tātakā’s Forest

Devanagari script

स वनं घोरसङ्काशं दृष्ट्वा नृपवरात्मज:।अविप्रहतमैक्ष्वाक: पप्रच्छ मुनिपुङ्गवम्।।1.24.12।।

Transliteration

sa vanaṃ ghora-saṅkāśaṃ dṛṣṭvā nṛpavarātmajaḥ | aviprahatam aikṣvākaḥ papraccha muni-puṅgavam || 1.24.12 ||

Translation

见那森林形貌阴森，仿佛无人踏入过，伊克什瓦库王族的王子——至上君王之子——便请问最尊贵的圣仙。

Word by Word

• सः: he
• सः: कर्ता (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति; एकवचन

• वनम्: forest
• वनम्: कर्म (Object of 'दृष्ट्वा')
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति; एकवचन

• घोर-सङ्काशम्: dreadful-looking
• घोर-सङ्काशम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घोर (प्रातिपदिक) + सङ्काश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय (terrible-looking); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति; एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying 'वनम्')

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: पूर्वक्रिया (Gerundial action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund); पूर्वकालिक क्रिया

• नृपवर-आत्मजः: son of the best of kings
• नृपवर-आत्मजः: कर्ता (Apposition to subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप (प्रातिपदिक) + वर (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (son of the best king); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति; एकवचन

• अविप्रहतम्: untrodden/unstruck (unfrequented)
• अविप्रहतम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ (नञ्) + विप्रहत (प्रातिपदिक; वि+प्र+हन् क्त)
• Form: नञ्-समासपूर्वक क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति; एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying 'वनम्')

• ऐक्ष्वाकः: descendant of Ikshvaku
• ऐक्ष्वाकः: कर्ता (Apposition to subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऐक्ष्वाक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति; एकवचन

• पप्रच्छ: asked
• पप्रच्छ: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रच्छ् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect); परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचन

• मुनि-पुङ्गवम्: the best of sages
• मुनि-पुङ्गवम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक) + पुङ्गव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष; पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति; एकवचन

Context

He who was a descendent of Ikshvaku and son of the best of kings, (Dasaratha) having seen that untrodden and dreadful forest asked the foremost of the ascetics:

Characters & Entities

• Rāma (Ikṣvāku prince)
• Daśaratha (implied: best of kings)
• Viśvāmitra (implied: foremost sage being addressed)
• forest (unnamed here)

FAQs

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

Dharma includes humble inquiry: when faced with the unknown, Rāma seeks understanding from a qualified teacher rather than acting on fear or assumption.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma encounters a terrifying, seemingly untouched forest and asks the great sage (Viśvāmitra) about it.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Respectful curiosity and teachability—qualities of an ideal disciple and responsible leader.