वाल्मीकि-रामायणम् vālmīki-rāmāyaṇam - book-3, chapter-9, verse-5

वसन्तो धर्मनिरता वने मूलफलाशनाः ।
न लभन्ते सुखं भीता राक्षसैः क्रूरकर्मभिः ॥५॥

5. vasanto dharmaniratā vane mūlaphalāśanāḥ ,
na labhante sukhaṃ bhītā rākṣasaiḥ krūrakarmabhiḥ.

5. vasantaḥ dharmaniratāḥ vane mūlaphalāśanāḥ na
labhante sukham bhītāḥ rākṣasaiḥ krūrakarmabhiḥ

5. vane vasantaḥ dharmaniratāḥ mūlaphalāśanāḥ bhītāḥ
krūrakarmabhiḥ rākṣasaiḥ sukham na labhante

5. Those who dwell in the forest, devoted to righteous conduct (dharma) and subsisting on roots and fruits, do not experience happiness, being terrified by rākṣasas of cruel actions.

Words meanings summery:

• वसन्तः (vasantaḥ) - dwelling, living

• धर्मनिरताः (dharmaniratāḥ) - devoted to dharma, engrossed in righteous conduct

• वने (vane) - in the forest

• मूलफलाशनाः (mūlaphalāśanāḥ) - subsisting on roots and fruits, eating roots and fruits

• न (na) - not

• लभन्ते (labhante) - they obtain, they experience

• सुखम् (sukham) - happiness, joy, comfort

• भीताः (bhītāḥ) - frightened, terrified

• राक्षसैः (rākṣasaiḥ) - by demons, by rākṣasas

• क्रूरकर्मभिः (krūrakarmabhiḥ) - by those of cruel deeds

Words meanings and morphology

वसन्तः (vasantaḥ) - dwelling, living

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, plural of vasat

vasat - dwelling, residing, living

Present Active Participle

From root √vas (class 1, parasmaipada)

Root: vas (class 1)

Note: Agrees with implied 'munayaḥ' (sages).

धर्मनिरताः (dharmaniratāḥ) - devoted to dharma, engrossed in righteous conduct

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, plural of dharmanirata

dharmanirata - devoted to dharma, intent on righteousness

Compound type : tatpurusha (dharma+nirata)

• dharma – righteous conduct, duty, natural law, intrinsic nature, constitution
  noun (masculine)
  Root: dhṛ
• nirata – devoted to, engrossed in, delighting in
  adjective (masculine)
  Past Passive Participle
  From root √ram with prefix ni-
  Prefix: ni
  Root: ram (class 1)

Note: Agrees with implied 'munayaḥ'.

वने (vane) - in the forest

(noun)

Locative, neuter, singular of vana

vana - forest, wood, grove

Note: Location of dwelling.

मूलफलाशनाः (mūlaphalāśanāḥ) - subsisting on roots and fruits, eating roots and fruits

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, plural of mūlaphalāśana

mūlaphalāśana - one who eats roots and fruits

Compound type : tatpurusha (mūla+phala+aśana)

• mūla – root, origin
  noun (neuter)
• phala – fruit, result
  noun (neuter)
• aśana – eating, food
  noun (neuter)
  From √aś 'to eat'
  Root: aś (class 9)

Note: Agrees with implied 'munayaḥ'.

न (na) - not

(indeclinable)

Note: Negates the verb 'labhante'.

लभन्ते (labhante) - they obtain, they experience

(verb)

3rd person , plural, middle, present (laṭ) of √labh

Present Tense, 3rd Person Plural

From root labh (class 1, ātmanepada)

Root: labh (class 1)

Note: The main verb, referring to the sages.

सुखम् (sukham) - happiness, joy, comfort

(noun)

Accusative, neuter, singular of sukha

sukha - happiness, joy, comfort, pleasure

Note: Object of 'labhante'.

भीताः (bhītāḥ) - frightened, terrified

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, plural of bhīta

bhīta - frightened, terrified, afraid

Past Passive Participle

Derived from root √bhī 'to fear'

Root: bhī (class 3)

Note: Agrees with implied 'munayaḥ', indicating their state.

राक्षसैः (rākṣasaiḥ) - by demons, by rākṣasas

(noun)

Instrumental, masculine, plural of rākṣasa

rākṣasa - rākṣasa (a type of demon or evil being), monstrous

Note: Agent causing fear ('bhītāḥ').

क्रूरकर्मभिः (krūrakarmabhiḥ) - by those of cruel deeds

(adjective)

Instrumental, masculine, plural of krūrakarman

krūrakarman - one whose deeds are cruel, cruel-actioned

Compound type : bahuvrihi (krūra+karman)

• krūra – cruel, fierce, harsh
  adjective (masculine)
• karman – deed, action, work, ritual action
  noun (neuter)

Note: Agrees with 'rākṣasaiḥ'.