Shloka 20

दक्षिणदिशि सीतान्वेषण-आदेशः

Commissioning the Southern Search for Sītā

Devanagari script

ततस्समुद्रमासाद्य सम्प्रधार्यार्थनिश्चयम्।अगस्त्येनान्तरे तत्र सागरे विनिवेशितः।।।।चित्रनानानगः श्रीमान्महेन्द्र: पर्वतोत्तमः।जातरूपमयः श्रीमानवगाढो महार्णवम्।।।।

Transliteration

tatas samudram āsādya sampradhāryārthaniścayam |

agastyenāntare tatra sāgare viniveśitaḥ ||

Translation

ثمّ إذا بلغتم المحيط، فتشاوروا واحسموا ما ينبغي فعله. وهناك، في وسط تلك الناحية من البحر، قد أقام أغاستيا علامةً فاصلة.

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय: क्रम/अनन्तरार्थे (then)

• samudram: the ocean
• samudram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: samudra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• āsādya: having reached
• āsādya: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ā-sad (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृत्)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययीभाव-प्राय कृदन्त (gerund/absolutive), क्रियाविशेषण (having reached)

• sampradhārya: having deliberated
• sampradhārya: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sam-pra-dhṛ (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृत्)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (gerund), क्रियाविशेषण (having considered)

• artha-niścayam: decision about the matter
• artha-niścayam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: artha (प्रातिपदिक) + niścaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (arthasya niścayaḥ)

• agastyena: by Agastya
• agastyena: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: agastya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन

• antare: within, in the interior
• antare: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: antara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; अन्तर-देशे (within/inside)

• tatra: there
• tatra: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय: देशार्थे (there)

• sāgare: in the sea
• sāgare: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sāgara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• viniveśitaḥ: placed, set
• viniveśitaḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi-ni-viś (धातु) + kta (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (mahendraḥ)

• citra-nānā-nagaḥ: having many varied, colorful trees/mountains
• citra-nānā-nagaḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: citra (प्रातिपदिक) + nānā (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + naga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि (citrāḥ nānāvidhāḥ nagāḥ yasmin/yaḥ) विशेषण (mahendraḥ)

• śrīmān: splendid, prosperous
• śrīmān: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śrīmat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• mahendraḥ: Mahendra (mountain)
• mahendraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahendra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; पर्वत-नाम (also Indra-name)

• parvata-uttamaḥ: best of mountains
• parvata-uttamaḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parvata (प्रातिपदिक) + uttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (parvatānām uttamaḥ) विशेषण

• jātarūpa-mayaḥ: made of gold
• jātarūpa-mayaḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jātarūpa (प्रातिपदिक) + mayaṭ (तद्धित-प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तद्धितान्त; तत्पुरुष-प्रायः (jātarūpasya mayaḥ = made of gold) विशेषण

• śrīmān: splendid
• śrīmān: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śrīmat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (mahendraḥ)

• avagāḍhaḥ: immersed, plunged into
• avagāḍhaḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ava-gāh (धातु) + kta (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (mahendraḥ)

• mahārṇavam: the great ocean
• mahārṇavam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + arṇava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समासः (mahān arṇavaḥ)

Context

'Then on reaching the sea shore, decide the course of action. Sage Agastya has set up (between the moat of the city and and the sea) a glorious golden mountain Mahendra. Filled with colourful trees, it stretches into the sea.

Characters & Entities

• Samudra (southern ocean)
• Agastya

FAQs

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

Dharma here is disciplined responsibility: before acting, one should reach the proper place, deliberate clearly, and decide the right means to accomplish a righteous mission (the search for Sītā).

What is the narrative situation?

Sugriva is instructing the southern search party on how to proceed once they reach the ocean, indicating a landmark associated with Sage Agastya.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Prudence and purposeful resolve—acting with thoughtful planning rather than haste.