वाल्मीकि-रामायणम् vālmīki-rāmāyaṇam - book-4, chapter-3, verse-4

राजर्षिदेवप्रतिमौ तापसौ संशितव्रतौ ।
देशं कथमिमं प्राप्तौ भवन्तौ वरवर्णिनौ ॥४॥

4. rājarṣidevapratimau tāpasau saṃśitavratau ,
deśaṃ kathamimaṃ prāptau bhavantau varavarṇinau.

4. rājarṣidevapratimau tāpasau saṃśitavratau deśam
katham imam prāptau bhavantau varavarṇinau

4. he rājarṣidevapratimau tāpasau saṃśitavratau
varavarṇinau bhavantau imam deśam katham prāptau

4. How is it that you two, who resemble royal sages and gods, are ascetics performing severe austerity (tapas) and observing firm vows, and possess excellent complexions, have arrived in this region?

Words meanings summery:

• राजर्षिदेवप्रतिमौ (rājarṣidevapratimau) - resembling royal sages and gods

• तापसौ (tāpasau) - the two ascetics

• संशितव्रतौ (saṁśitavratau) - the two whose vows are firm, of keen vows

• देशम् (deśam) - region, country, place

• कथम् (katham) - how, in what manner, why

• इमम् (imam) - this

• प्राप्तौ (prāptau) - having reached, arrived

• भवन्तौ (bhavantau) - you two

• वरवर्णिनौ (varavarṇinau) - the two of excellent complexion, most beautiful

Words meanings and morphology

राजर्षिदेवप्रतिमौ (rājarṣidevapratimau) - resembling royal sages and gods

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, dual of rājarṣidevapratima

rājarṣidevapratima - resembling royal sages and gods

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (rājarṣi+deva+pratima)

• rājarṣi – royal sage, king who is also a sage
  noun (masculine)
  from rājan + ṛṣi
• deva – god, deity, divine being
  noun (masculine)
• pratima – resembling, like, similar to, image, likeness
  adjective (masculine)

Note: Qualifies bhavantau.

तापसौ (tāpasau) - the two ascetics

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, dual of tāpasa

tāpasa - ascetic, hermit, practicing austerity (tapas)

derived from tapas (austerity)

Note: Refers to Rama and Lakshmana.

संशितव्रतौ (saṁśitavratau) - the two whose vows are firm, of keen vows

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, dual of saṃśitavrata

saṁśitavrata - one whose vows are firm/keen/sharp, steadfast in vows

Compound type : bahuvrīhi (saṃśita+vrata)

• saṃśita – sharpened, keen, firm, steadfast
  adjective (neuter)
  Past Passive Participle
  from saṃ-√śi 'to sharpen'
  Prefix: sam
  Root: śi (class 2)
• vrata – vow, sacred observance, religious practice
  noun (neuter)

Note: Qualifies bhavantau.

देशम् (deśam) - region, country, place

(noun)

Accusative, masculine, singular of deśa

deśa - region, country, place, spot

Note: Object of prāptau.

कथम् (katham) - how, in what manner, why

(indeclinable)

Note: Interrogative adverb.

इमम् (imam) - this

(pronoun)

Accusative, masculine, singular of idam

idam - this, here

Note: Qualifies deśam.

प्राप्तौ (prāptau) - having reached, arrived

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, dual of prāpta

prāpta - reached, obtained, arrived, acquired

Past Passive Participle

from pra-√āp 'to obtain, reach'

Prefix: pra

Root: āp (class 5)

Note: Refers to bhavantau.

भवन्तौ (bhavantau) - you two

(pronoun)

Nominative, masculine, dual of bhavat

bhavat - your honor, you (polite address), being, becoming

present active participle

from √bhū 'to be, to become'

Root: bhū (class 1)

Note: Often used as a respectful second person pronoun (you all/you two).

वरवर्णिनौ (varavarṇinau) - the two of excellent complexion, most beautiful

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, dual of varavarṇin

varavarṇin - of excellent color/complexion, beautiful, fair-skinned

from vara + varṇa + -in

Compound type : bahuvrīhi (vara+varṇa)

• vara – excellent, best, finest, boon
  adjective (masculine)
• varṇa – color, complexion, caste, letter
  noun (masculine)

Note: Qualifies bhavantau.