Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 56, Shloka 17

षट्पञ्चाशः सर्गः — वैदेही-आश्वासनम् तथा अरिष्टारोहणम्

Consoling Sita and Ascending Mount Arishta

Devanagari script

कूटैश्च बहुधा कीर्णैश्शोभितं बहुकन्दरैः।सालतालाश्वकर्णैश्च वंशैश्च बहुभिर्वृतम्।।।।

Transliteration

kūṭaiś ca bahudhā kīrṇaiḥ śobhitaṃ bahu-kandaraiḥ |

sāla-tālāśvakarṇaiś ca vaṃśaiś ca bahubhir vṛtam ||

Translation

Adorned with many caves and strewn with numerous peaks, it looked splendid; and it was covered with many sāla trees, palms, aśvakarṇas, and bamboos.

Word by Word

• kūṭaiḥ: with peaks/summits
• kūṭaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kūṭa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचनम्

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• bahudhā: variously
• bahudhā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: bahudhā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, प्रकारार्थे (adverb: 'in many ways/variously')

• kīrṇaiḥ: scattered with
• kīrṇaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √kṝ (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle), तृतीया-बहुवचनम्; विशेषणम्

• śobhitam: adorned
• śobhitam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √śubh (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त, द्वितीया-एकवचनम्; 'adorned/beautiful'

• bahu-kandaraiḥ: with many caves
• bahu-kandaraiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bahu (प्रातिपदिक) + kandara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचनम्; कर्मधारय: 'बहवः कन्दराः'

• sāla-tāla-aśvakarṇaiḥ: with sāla, tāla and aśvakarṇa trees
• sāla-tāla-aśvakarṇaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sāla (प्रातिपदिक) + tāla (प्रातिपदिक) + aśvakarṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचनम्; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व: sālaś ca tālaś ca aśvakarṇaś ca

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• vaṃśaiḥ: with bamboos
• vaṃśaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaṃśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचनम्

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• bahubhiḥ: with many
• bahubhiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bahu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचनम्; विशेषणम्

• vṛtam: covered
• vṛtam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √vṛ (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त, द्वितीया-एकवचनम्; 'covered/surrounded'

Context

With many kinds of caves and peaks scattered all over, the mountain looked delightful. It was canopied with numerous trees like Sal, palms, Aswakarnas and bamboos.

Characters & Entities

• sāla (tree)
• tāla (palm)
• vaṃśa (bamboo)

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

It highlights abundance and ordered variety in nature; a Dharmic reading sees the world as a structured field of life where beings have their place—encouraging non-violence and responsible conduct within an interdependent environment.

What is the narrative situation?

The narration catalogs the mountain’s physical features—peaks, caves, and forests—enriching the scene around Hanumān’s journey context.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Appreciative discernment (viveka): noticing detail without distraction parallels the mindful focus required for Dharmic action.