वाल्मीकि-रामायणम् vālmīki-rāmāyaṇam - book-5, chapter-24, verse-44

अथ वा न्यस्तशस्त्रौ तौ वने मूलफलाशनौ ।
भ्रातरौ हि नर श्रेष्ठौ चरन्तौ वनगोचरौ ॥४४॥

44. atha vā nyastaśastrau tau vane mūlaphalāśanau ,
bhrātarau hi nara śreṣṭhau carantau vanagocarau.

44. atha vā nyastaśastrau tau vane mūlaphalāśanau |
bhrātarau hi naraśreṣṭhau carantau vanagocarau

44. atha vā tau nyastaśastrau mūlaphalāśanau hi
naraśreṣṭhau bhrātarau vane vanagocarau carantau

44. Or perhaps those two brothers, the best among men, having laid aside their weapons in the forest, consuming roots and fruits, are wandering about as forest dwellers.

Words meanings summery:

• अथ (atha) - now, then, moreover, or

• वा (vā) - or, either...or

• न्यस्तशस्त्रौ (nyastaśastrau) - Rama and Lakshmana, having laid aside their weapons (those by whom weapons are laid down)

• तौ (tau) - Rama and Lakshmana (those two)

• वने (vane) - in the forest

• मूलफलाशनौ (mūlaphalāśanau) - Rama and Lakshmana, subsisting on roots and fruits (eaters of roots and fruits)

• भ्रातरौ (bhrātarau) - Rama and Lakshmana (two brothers)

• हि (hi) - indeed, for, because

• नरश्रेष्ठौ (naraśreṣṭhau) - Rama and Lakshmana, the best among men (the best among men)

• चरन्तौ (carantau) - Rama and Lakshmana, wandering (wandering, moving)

• वनगोचरौ (vanagocarau) - Rama and Lakshmana, as forest dwellers (moving in the forest, dwelling in the forest)

Words meanings and morphology

अथ (atha) - now, then, moreover, or

(indeclinable)

वा (vā) - or, either...or

(indeclinable)

न्यस्तशस्त्रौ (nyastaśastrau) - Rama and Lakshmana, having laid aside their weapons (those by whom weapons are laid down)

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, dual of nyastaśastra

nyastaśastra - one who has laid down weapons, disarmed

Compound type : Bahuvrīhi (nyasta+śastra)

• nyasta – laid down, deposited, cast aside
  adjective (masculine)
  Past Passive Participle
  From root as 'to throw' with prefix ni
  Prefix: ni
  Root: as (class 4)
• śastra – weapon, arm, sword
  noun (neuter)
  From root śas 'to cut'
  Root: śas (class 2)

Note: Qualifies the two brothers.

तौ (tau) - Rama and Lakshmana (those two)

(pronoun)

Nominative, masculine, dual of tad

tad - that, those

Note: Refers to Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa.

वने (vane) - in the forest

(noun)

Locative, neuter, singular of vana

vana - forest, wood, grove

मूलफलाशनौ (mūlaphalāśanau) - Rama and Lakshmana, subsisting on roots and fruits (eaters of roots and fruits)

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, dual of mūlaphalāśana

mūlaphalāśana - one who eats roots and fruits

Compound type : Tatpuruṣa (mūla+phala+aśana)

• mūla – root, origin, foundation
  noun (neuter)
• phala – fruit, result, consequence
  noun (neuter)
• aśana – eating, food, consumer
  noun (masculine)
  Action noun/Agent noun
  From root aś 'to eat'
  Root: aś (class 9)

Note: Qualifies the two brothers.

भ्रातरौ (bhrātarau) - Rama and Lakshmana (two brothers)

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, dual of bhrātṛ

bhrātṛ - brother

Note: Refers to Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa.

हि (hi) - indeed, for, because

(indeclinable)

नरश्रेष्ठौ (naraśreṣṭhau) - Rama and Lakshmana, the best among men (the best among men)

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, dual of naraśreṣṭha

naraśreṣṭha - best of men, chief among men

Compound type : Tatpuruṣa (nara+śreṣṭha)

• nara – man, person, male
  noun (masculine)
  Root: nṛ
• śreṣṭha – best, most excellent, chief
  adjective (masculine)
  Superlative form of praśasya

Note: Qualifies the two brothers.

चरन्तौ (carantau) - Rama and Lakshmana, wandering (wandering, moving)

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, dual of carat

carat - moving, wandering, going

Present Active Participle

From root car 'to move, wander'

Root: car (class 1)

Note: Qualifies the two brothers.

वनगोचरौ (vanagocarau) - Rama and Lakshmana, as forest dwellers (moving in the forest, dwelling in the forest)

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, dual of vanagocara

vanagocara - forest dweller, moving in the forest

From vana 'forest' and gocara 'moving in'

Compound type : Tatpuruṣa (vana+gocara)

• vana – forest, wood, grove
  noun (neuter)
• gocara – range, scope, pasture; moving in, dwelling in
  adjective (masculine)
  From go 'cow/sense' and car 'to move'
  Root: car (class 1)

Note: Qualifies the two brothers.

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