वाल्मीकि-रामायणम् vālmīki-rāmāyaṇam - book-1, chapter-1, verse-1

तपःस्वाध्यायनिरतं तपस्वी वाग्विदां वरम् ।
नारदं परिपप्रच्छ वाल्मीकिर्मुनिपुंगवम् ॥१॥

1. tapaḥsvādhyāyanirataṃ tapasvī vāgvidāṃ varam ,
nāradaṃ paripapraccha vālmīkirmunipuṃgavam.

1. tapaḥsvādhyāyaniratam tapasvī vāgvidām varam
nāradam paripapraccha vālmīkiḥ munipuṅgavam

1. vālmīkiḥ tapasvī nāradam tapaḥsvādhyāyaniratam
vāgvidām varam munipuṅgavam paripapraccha

1. The ascetic Vālmīki asked Nārada, who was devoted to spiritual discipline (tapas) and self-study, the foremost among speakers, and the best among sages.

Words meanings summery:

• तपःस्वाध्यायनिरतम् (tapaḥsvādhyāyaniratam) - devoted to spiritual discipline (tapas) and self-study (svādhyāya) as part of Nārada's characteristics (devoted to asceticism and self-study, engaged in spiritual discipline and Vedic recitation)

• तपस्वी (tapasvī) - an ascetic, referring to Vālmīki (ascetic, sage, one who practices austerities)

• वाग्विदाम् (vāgvidām) - of those who are skilled in speech (of those who know speech, of orators, of eloquent ones)

• वरम् (varam) - the best, referring to Nārada as the best among speakers (best, excellent, superior, a boon)

• नारदम् (nāradam) - the sage Nārada, to whom Vālmīki posed his questions (Nārada (proper noun))

• परिपप्रच्छ (paripapraccha) - Vālmīki asked Nārada (asked, inquired thoroughly)

• वाल्मीकिः (vālmīkiḥ) - the sage Vālmīki, who is asking the questions (Vālmīki (proper noun))

• मुनिपुङ्गवम् (munipuṅgavam) - referring to Nārada, as an excellent sage (foremost among sages, excellent sage)

Words meanings and morphology

तपःस्वाध्यायनिरतम् (tapaḥsvādhyāyaniratam) - devoted to spiritual discipline (tapas) and self-study (svādhyāya) as part of Nārada's characteristics (devoted to asceticism and self-study, engaged in spiritual discipline and Vedic recitation)

(adjective)

Accusative, masculine, singular of tapaḥsvādhyāyanirata

tapaḥsvādhyāyanirata - devoted to spiritual discipline and self-study

Compound type : saptamī-tatpuruṣa (tapas+svādhyāya+nirata)

• tapas – asceticism, spiritual discipline, penance
  noun (neuter)
  Root: tap (class 4)
• svādhyāya – self-study, recitation of Vedas, study of sacred texts
  noun (masculine)
  From `sva` (self) and `adhyāya` (study)
  Prefix: adhi
  Root: ī (class 2)
• nirata – engaged in, devoted to, attached to
  adjective (masculine)
  Past Passive Participle
  From root `ram` with prefix `ni`
  Prefix: ni
  Root: ram (class 1)

Note: Qualifies Nārada (accusative).

तपस्वी (tapasvī) - an ascetic, referring to Vālmīki (ascetic, sage, one who practices austerities)

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of tapasvin

tapasvin - ascetic, practicing penance, pious, a devotee

Derived from `tapas` with suffix `vin`

Note: Qualifies Vālmīki (nominative).

वाग्विदाम् (vāgvidām) - of those who are skilled in speech (of those who know speech, of orators, of eloquent ones)

(adjective)

Genitive, masculine, plural of vāgvid

vāgvid - knowing speech, eloquent, an orator

From `vāc` (speech) + `vid` (knowing)

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (vāc+vid)

• vāc – speech, voice, word
  noun (feminine)
• vid – knowing, knower, wise
  adjective (masculine)
  Derived from root `vid` (to know)
  Root: vid (class 2)

Note: Modifies `varam`.

वरम् (varam) - the best, referring to Nārada as the best among speakers (best, excellent, superior, a boon)

(adjective)

Accusative, masculine, singular of vara

vara - best, excellent, choicest, a boon

From root `vṛ` (to choose)

Root: vṛ (class 9)

Note: Qualifies Nārada (accusative).

नारदम् (nāradam) - the sage Nārada, to whom Vālmīki posed his questions (Nārada (proper noun))

(proper noun)

Accusative, masculine, singular of nārada

nārada - Nārada (a divine sage, son of Brahmā, known for his wisdom and musical prowess)

Note: Object of the verb `paripapraccha`.

परिपप्रच्छ (paripapraccha) - Vālmīki asked Nārada (asked, inquired thoroughly)

(verb)

3rd person , singular, active, perfect (Liṭ) of pariprach

Perfect Tense

Reduplicated past tense (Liṭ-lakāra) of root `prach` with prefix `pari`

Prefix: pari

Root: prach (class 6)

वाल्मीकिः (vālmīkiḥ) - the sage Vālmīki, who is asking the questions (Vālmīki (proper noun))

(proper noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of vālmīki

vālmīki - Vālmīki (the revered author of the Rāmāyaṇa)

Note: Subject of the verb `paripapraccha`.

मुनिपुङ्गवम् (munipuṅgavam) - referring to Nārada, as an excellent sage (foremost among sages, excellent sage)

(noun)

Accusative, masculine, singular of munipuṅgava

munipuṅgava - excellent among ascetics, best of sages

From `muni` (sage) + `puṅgava` (bull, implying best/foremost)

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (muni+puṅgava)

• muni – sage, ascetic, seer
  noun (masculine)
• puṅgava – bull, chief, excellent, pre-eminent
  noun (masculine)

Note: Qualifies Nārada (accusative).