Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 24, Shloka 15

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

धवाश्वकर्णककुभैर्बिल्वतिन्दुकपाटलै:।

सङ्कीर्णं बदरीभिश्च किन्न्वेतद्दारुणं वनम्।।1.24.15।।

Transliteration

dhavāśvakarṇa-kakubhair bilva-tinduka-pāṭalaiḥ | saṅkīrṇaṃ badarībhiś ca kinnv etad dāruṇaṃ vanam || 1.24.15 ||

Translation

“林中密布着檀婆、阿湿瓦迦耳那、迦库婆、毗罗、丁杜迦与波吒罗诸树，又丛生枣树——这究竟是怎样一片可怖的森林？”

Word by Word

• धव-अश्वकर्ण-ककुभैः: with dhava, aśvakarṇa, and kakubha (trees)
• धव-अश्वकर्ण-ककुभैः: करण/सह (Instrumental: with/by)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धव (प्रातिपदिक) + अश्वकर्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + ककुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व (copulative: dhava, aśvakarṇa, kakubha trees); पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया-विभक्ति; बहुवचन

• बिल्व-तिन्दुक-पाटलैः: with bilva, tinduka, and pāṭala (trees)
• बिल्व-तिन्दुक-पाटलैः: करण/सह (Instrumental: with/by)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बिल्व (प्रातिपदिक) + तिन्दुक (प्रातिपदिक) + पाटल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व (bilva, tinduka, pāṭala trees); पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया-विभक्ति; बहुवचन

• सङ्कीर्णम्: thronged/strewn
• सङ्कीर्णम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्+कीर्/कॄ (धातु; सम्+कॄ/कीर्)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle: mixed/strewn); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति; एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying 'वनम्')

• बदरीभिः: with jujube trees (badarī)
• बदरीभिः: करण/सह (Instrumental: with/by)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बदरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; तृतीया-विभक्ति; बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Coordinator)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक

• किम्: what?
• किम्: प्रश्न (Interrogative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया; एकवचन; प्रश्नवाचक

• नु: indeed/then
• नु: प्रश्न-निपात (Interrogative particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रश्न/निश्चयार्थक निपात (interrogative particle: indeed/then)

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया; एकवचन; निर्देशवाचक; विशेषणम् (qualifying 'वनम्')

• दारुणम्: terrible
• दारुणम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दारुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया; एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying 'वनम्')

• वनम्: forest
• वनम्: प्रश्न-विषय (Topic of question)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया; एकवचन

Context

This forest jampacked with dhava, ashvakarna, kakubha, bilva, tinduka, patala and badari trees, how frightening this forest could be!"

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• forest
• dhava
• bilva
• pāṭala
• badarī

FAQs

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

Dharma supports learning through questioning: Rāma seeks truthful explanation (satya-jijñāsā) rather than relying on speculation.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma notes the dense vegetation and fearful atmosphere and asks Viśvāmitra what this forest is.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Intellectual humility—asking for context from the sage to align action with right understanding.