वाल्मीकि-रामायणम् vālmīki-rāmāyaṇam - book-4, chapter-39, verse-52

तत्र पूर्वं पदं कृत्वा पुरा विष्णुस्त्रिविक्रमे ।
द्वितीयं शिखरं मेरोश्चकार पुरुषोत्तमः ॥५२॥

52. tatra pūrvaṃ padaṃ kṛtvā purā viṣṇustrivikrame ,
dvitīyaṃ śikharaṃ meroścakāra puruṣottamaḥ.

52. tatra pūrvam padam kṛtvā purā viṣṇuḥ trivikrame
dvitīyam śikharam meroḥ cakāra puruṣottamaḥ

52. purā tatra trivikrame viṣṇuḥ puruṣottamaḥ pūrvam
padam kṛtvā dvitīyam meroḥ śikharam cakāra

52. There, in ancient times, the Supreme Person (puruṣottama) Vishnu, during his three strides (Trivikrama), placed his first step, and then took his second step on Meru's peak.

Words meanings summery:

• तत्र (tatra) - on that (Saumanasa) peak (there, in that place)

• पूर्वम् (pūrvam) - first (step) (first, former, eastern)

• पदम् (padam) - (a) step (step, foot, place, word)

• कृत्वा (kṛtvā) - having placed (having done, having made, having placed)

• पुरा (purā) - in ancient times (formerly, in ancient times, before)

• विष्णुः (viṣṇuḥ) - Vishnu (Vishnu (a prominent Hindu deity))

• त्रिविक्रमे (trivikrame) - in his three strides (Trivikrama incarnation) (in the three strides, in the Trivikrama incarnation)

• द्वितीयम् (dvitīyam) - second (step/place) (second)

• शिखरम् (śikharam) - peak (of Meru) (peak, summit)

• मेरोः (meroḥ) - of (Mount) Meru (of Meru, Meru's)

• चकार (cakāra) - he placed (his step), he made (it his second place) (he did, he made)

• पुरुषोत्तमः (puruṣottamaḥ) - the Supreme Person (puruṣottama) (the best of men, the supreme person)

Words meanings and morphology

तत्र (tatra) - on that (Saumanasa) peak (there, in that place)

(indeclinable)

derived from tad (that) + tral suffix

पूर्वम् (pūrvam) - first (step) (first, former, eastern)

(adjective)

Accusative, neuter, singular of pūrva

pūrva - prior, former, first, eastern

Note: In agreement with padam.

पदम् (padam) - (a) step (step, foot, place, word)

(noun)

Accusative, neuter, singular of pada

pada - foot, step, place, word

From root pad (to go)

Root: pad (class 4)

Note: Object of the gerund kṛtvā.

कृत्वा (kṛtvā) - having placed (having done, having made, having placed)

(indeclinable)

Absolutive (Gerund)

From root kṛ (to do, to make) + ktvā suffix.

Root: kṛ (class 8)

पुरा (purā) - in ancient times (formerly, in ancient times, before)

(indeclinable)

Adverbial form, from pra (before) + ā.

Note: Temporal adverb.

विष्णुः (viṣṇuḥ) - Vishnu (Vishnu (a prominent Hindu deity))

(proper noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of viṣṇu

viṣṇu - Vishnu (a Hindu deity), pervader

From root viṣ (to pervade).

Root: viṣ (class 1)

Note: Subject of cakāra.

त्रिविक्रमे (trivikrame) - in his three strides (Trivikrama incarnation) (in the three strides, in the Trivikrama incarnation)

(noun)

Locative, masculine, singular of trivikrama

trivikrama - three strides (of Vishnu), the Trivikrama incarnation of Vishnu

Derived from tri (three) + vikrama (stride, valor).

Compound type : dvigu (tri+vikrama)

• tri – three
  numeral
• vikrama – stride, step, valor, prowess
  noun (masculine)
  From root kram (to step, go) with upasarga vi.
  Prefix: vi
  Root: kram (class 1)

Note: Indicates the occasion or circumstance.

द्वितीयम् (dvitīyam) - second (step/place) (second)

(adjective)

Accusative, neuter, singular of dvitīya

dvitīya - second

From dvi (two) + tīya suffix.

Note: In agreement with śikharam.

शिखरम् (śikharam) - peak (of Meru) (peak, summit)

(noun)

Accusative, neuter, singular of śikhara

śikhara - peak, summit, top, crest

Note: Object of cakāra, referring to the destination of the second step.

मेरोः (meroḥ) - of (Mount) Meru (of Meru, Meru's)

(proper noun)

Genitive, masculine, singular of meru

meru - Mount Meru (mythical golden mountain)

Note: Possessive of śikharam.

चकार (cakāra) - he placed (his step), he made (it his second place) (he did, he made)

(verb)

3rd person , singular, active, past perfect (lit) of kṛ

Perfect Tense

Root kṛ, Perfect Active, 3rd person singular. Formed with reduplication.

Root: kṛ (class 8)

Note: The main verb of the second clause.

पुरुषोत्तमः (puruṣottamaḥ) - the Supreme Person (puruṣottama) (the best of men, the supreme person)

(proper noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of puruṣottama

puruṣottama - best of men, supreme person, an epithet of Vishnu/Krishna

Compound of puruṣa (person) + uttama (best, highest).

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (puruṣa+uttama)

• puruṣa – man, person, spirit, human being, the cosmic person (puruṣa)
  noun (masculine)
• uttama – highest, best, principal
  adjective (masculine)
  Superlative of ud (up)

Note: In apposition to viṣṇuḥ and subject of cakāra.

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