वाल्मीकि-रामायणम् vālmīki-rāmāyaṇam - book-5, chapter-15, verse-1

ततः कुमुदषण्डाभो निर्मलं निर्मलः स्वयम् ।
प्रजगाम नभश्चन्द्रो हंसो नीलमिवोदकम् ॥१॥

1. tataḥ kumudaṣaṇḍābho nirmalaṃ nirmalaḥ svayam ,
prajagāma nabhaścandro haṃso nīlamivodakam.

1. tataḥ kumudaṣaṇḍābhaḥ nirmalam nirmalaḥ svayam
prajagāma nabhaḥ candraḥ haṃsaḥ nīlam iva udakam

1. tataḥ kumudaṣaṇḍābhaḥ nirmalaḥ candraḥ svayam
nirmalam nabhaḥ prajagāma haṃsaḥ nīlam udakam iva

1. Then the moon, inherently pure and resembling a cluster of white water lilies, ascended into the clear sky, just as a swan glides into blue water.

Words meanings summery:

• ततः (tataḥ) - then (then, thereafter, from there)

• कुमुदषण्डाभः (kumudaṣaṇḍābhaḥ) - resembling a cluster of white water lilies

• निर्मलम् (nirmalam) - clear (sky) (pure, clear, spotless)

• निर्मलः (nirmalaḥ) - pure, clear, spotless

• स्वयम् (svayam) - inherently, by its very nature (by oneself, in person, inherently)

• प्रजगाम (prajagāma) - ascended (into the sky) (went forth, ascended, proceeded)

• नभः (nabhaḥ) - into the sky (sky, atmosphere)

• चन्द्रः (candraḥ) - moon

• हंसः (haṁsaḥ) - swan, goose

• नीलम् (nīlam) - blue (water) (blue, dark blue)

• इव (iva) - like, as if

• उदकम् (udakam) - water

Words meanings and morphology

ततः (tataḥ) - then (then, thereafter, from there)

(indeclinable)

Note: Indicates sequence of events.

कुमुदषण्डाभः (kumudaṣaṇḍābhaḥ) - resembling a cluster of white water lilies

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of kumudaṣaṇḍābha

kumudaṣaṇḍābha - resembling a cluster of white water lilies

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (kumuda+ṣaṇḍa+ābha)

• kumuda – white water lily
  noun (neuter)
• ṣaṇḍa – group, cluster, multitude
  noun (masculine)
• ābha – resembling, like, radiant
  adjective

Note: Qualifies candraḥ.

निर्मलम् (nirmalam) - clear (sky) (pure, clear, spotless)

(adjective)

Accusative, neuter, singular of nirmala

nirmala - pure, clean, spotless, free from dirt

Compound of nir (without) + mala (dirt)

Compound type : bahuvrīhi (nis+mala)

• nis – without, out, free from
  indeclinable
  prefix
• mala – dirt, impurity, stain
  noun (masculine)

Note: Qualifies nabhaḥ.

निर्मलः (nirmalaḥ) - pure, clear, spotless

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of nirmala

nirmala - pure, clean, spotless, free from dirt

Compound of nir (without) + mala (dirt)

Compound type : bahuvrīhi (nis+mala)

• nis – without, out, free from
  indeclinable
  prefix
• mala – dirt, impurity, stain
  noun (masculine)

Note: Qualifies candraḥ.

स्वयम् (svayam) - inherently, by its very nature (by oneself, in person, inherently)

(indeclinable)

Note: Emphasizes the moon's inherent purity.

प्रजगाम (prajagāma) - ascended (into the sky) (went forth, ascended, proceeded)

(verb)

3rd person , singular, active, past perfect (liṭ) of gam

Perfect tense

from root gam (to go) with upasarga pra

Prefix: pra

Root: gam (class 1)

Note: Main verb.

नभः (nabhaḥ) - into the sky (sky, atmosphere)

(noun)

Accusative, neuter, singular of nabhas

nabhas - sky, atmosphere, cloud

Note: Object of motion for prajagāma.

चन्द्रः (candraḥ) - moon

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of candra

candra - moon, luminous, shining

Note: Subject of prajagāma.

हंसः (haṁsaḥ) - swan, goose

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of haṃsa

haṁsa - swan, goose, a mythical bird, the sun, the soul

Note: Used in comparison.

नीलम् (nīlam) - blue (water) (blue, dark blue)

(adjective)

Accusative, neuter, singular of nīla

nīla - blue, dark blue, indigo

Note: Qualifies udakam.

इव (iva) - like, as if

(indeclinable)

उदकम् (udakam) - water

(noun)

Accusative, neuter, singular of udaka

udaka - water

Note: Object of comparison for where the swan goes.