Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 74, Shloka 10

परशुरामप्रादुर्भावः

The Appearance of Parasurama on the Return from Mithila

Devanagari script

भौमाश्चैव मृगा स्सर्वे गच्छन्ति स्म प्रदक्षिणम्।।।।तान् दृष्ट्वा राजशार्दूलो वसिष्ठं पर्यपृच्छत।

Transliteration

bhaumāś caiva mṛgāḥ sarve gacchanti sma pradakṣiṇam | tān dṛṣṭvā rājaśārdūlo vasiṣṭhaṃ paryapṛcchat ||

Translation

一切陆行之兽皆向右而行；王中之虎见此，便询问圣仙婆悉吒（Vasiṣṭha）。

Word by Word

• भौमाः: earthly/terrestrial
• भौमाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject—qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भौम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying मृगाः)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-निपात (emphatic particle)

• मृगाः: animals/beasts
• मृगाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Karta (कर्ता/Subject—qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying मृगाः)

• गच्छन्ति: go/move
• गच्छन्ति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपद

• स्म: (in the past)
• स्म: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्म (अव्यय)
• Form: स्म-निपात (narrative particle)

• प्रदक्षिणम्: to the right
• प्रदक्षिणम्: Gati (गति/adverb of motion)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रदक्षिण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb) 'to the right/rightwards'

• तान्: them
• तान्: Karma (कर्म/Object of dṛṣṭvā)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund): 'having seen'

• राजशार्दूलः: tiger among kings
• राजशार्दूलः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् + शार्दूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपमानार्थे तत्पुरुष/कर्मधारयभाव: 'tiger among kings' (epithet)

• वसिष्ठम्: Vasiṣṭha
• वसिष्ठम्: Karma (कर्म/Object of paryapṛcchata)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वसिष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; व्यक्तिनाम (proper noun)

• पर्यपृच्छत: asked/enquired
• पर्यपृच्छत: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि + प्रच्छ् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

Context

Seeing the beasts on the way rushing to the right the tiger among men, enquired of Vasishta:

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha (rājaśārdūla)
• Vasiṣṭha

FAQs

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

A ruler consults wise counsel when uncertain: seeking guidance from a guru-like authority is a dharmic response to ambiguity.

What is the narrative situation?

During travel, Daśaratha notices animals moving to the auspicious right and asks Vasiṣṭha to interpret the sign.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Prudence and humility: despite being a king, Daśaratha asks rather than presumes.