Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 63, Shloka 24

विश्वामित्रस्य तपोविघ्नः, मेनकाप्रसङ्गः, महर्षिपदप्रदानम्

Visvamitra’s Austerity Obstructed; Menaka Episode; Conferment of Maharshi Status

Devanagari script

घर्मे पञ्चतपा भूत्वा वर्षास्वाकाशसंश्रय:।शिशिरे सलिलस्थायी रात्र्यहानि तपोधन:।।।।एवं वर्षसहस्रं हि तपो घोरमुपागमत्।

Transliteration

gharme pañcatapā bhūtvā varṣāsv ākāśasaṃśrayaḥ | śiśire salilasthāyī rātryahāni tapodhanaḥ || evaṃ varṣasahasraṃ hi tapo ghōram upāgamat |

Translation

夏时他行“五火苦行”；雨季他栖身于露天苍穹之下；冬时他昼夜浸没在水中。如此，这位积聚苦行之财的行者，历经千年，修持了极其严酷的苦行。

Word by Word

• घर्मे: in summer
• घर्मे: अधिकरण (Location/Time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: घर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Loc/7th), एकवचन

• पञ्चतपाः: (as) one practising five-fire penance
• पञ्चतपाः: कर्ता-विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्च + तप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; द्विगु-समास: 'पञ्च तपांसि यस्य/यत्र' (five-fire penance)

• भूत्वा: having become
• भूत्वा: क्रियाविशेषण
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund)

• वर्षासु: in the rains
• वर्षासु: अधिकरण (Time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्षा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Loc/7th), बहुवचन

• आकाशसंश्रयः: taking shelter in the open sky
• आकाशसंश्रयः: कर्ता-विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आकाश + संश्रय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: 'आकाशं संश्रयः यस्य सः' (taking refuge in the open sky)

• शिशिरे: in winter
• शिशिरे: अधिकरण (Time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिशिर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Loc/7th), एकवचन

• सलिलस्थायी: remaining in water
• सलिलस्थायी: कर्ता-विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सलिल + स्थायिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: 'सलिले स्थायी' (staying in water)

• रात्र्यहानि: nights and days
• रात्र्यहानि: कालाधिकरण/अव्ययीभावार्थ (Extent of time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रात्रि + अहन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Acc/2nd), बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व: 'रात्रयः च अहानि च'

• तपोधनः: the tapas-wealthy ascetic
• तपोधनः: कर्ता (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपोधन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपाधि

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: प्रकार (Manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (manner adverb)

• वर्षसहस्रम्: a thousand years
• वर्षसहस्रम्: कालपरिमाण (Duration/extent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ष + सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Acc/2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: 'वर्षाणां सहस्रम्' (a thousand years)

• हि: indeed
• हि: अव्यय (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), reason/emphasis

• तपः: austerity
• तपः: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Acc/2nd), एकवचन

• घोरम्: terrible; severe
• घोरम्: कर्मणि विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घोर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण of 'तपः'

• उपागमत्: undertook; performed
• उपागमत्: क्रिया (Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप + गम् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

Context

Viswamitra whose wealth was his penance carried on his rigid austerities for a thousand years amidst five fires, in summer, under the open sky in monsoon, and immersed in ater night and day in winter.

Characters & Entities

• Viśvāmitra (Tapodhana)

FAQs

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

Dharma underscores disciplined endurance: sustained self-control over comfort and hardship is portrayed as a path toward inner truth (satya) and spiritual maturity.

What is the narrative situation?

The text describes Viśvāmitra’s long-term, season-by-season austerities, maintained continuously for a thousand years.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Extraordinary endurance (titikṣā) and unwavering commitment to a higher goal.