Shloka 21

दक्षिणदिशि सीतान्वेषण-आदेशः

Commissioning the Southern Search for Sītā

Devanagari script

ततस्समुद्रमासाद्य सम्प्रधार्यार्थनिश्चयम्।अगस्त्येनान्तरे तत्र सागरे विनिवेशितः।।4.41.20।।चित्रनानानगः श्रीमान्महेन्द्र: पर्वतोत्तमः।जातरूपमयः श्रीमानवगाढो महार्णवम्।।4.41.21।।

Transliteration

citranānānagaḥ śrīmān mahendraḥ parvatottamaḥ |

jātarūpamayaḥ śrīmān avagāḍho mahārṇavam ||

Translation

وذلك الجبلُ الفائقُ ماهيندرا، بهيٌّ بأشجارٍ شتّى الألوان، متلألئٌ كأنّه من ذهبٍ مصوغ، قائمٌ في مجده ويغوص في البحر العظيم.

Word by Word

• nānāvidhaiḥ: of various kinds
• nānāvidhaiḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nānāvidha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण (nagaiḥ)

• nagaiḥ: with trees
• nagaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: naga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; अत्र 'वृक्ष' अर्थे

• sarvaiḥ: with all
• sarvaiḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण (nagaiḥ)

• latābhiḥ: with creepers/vines
• latābhiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: latā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन

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

• upaśobhitam: beautified, adorned
• upaśobhitam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: upa-śubh (धातु) + kta (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (PPP), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (parvata/dvīpa etc., implied)

• devarṣi-yakṣa-pravaraiḥ: by eminent divine sages and yakṣas
• devarṣi-yakṣa-pravaraiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devarṣi (प्रातिपदिक) + yakṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + pravara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समाहार/तत्पुरुष-प्रायः (excellent among devarṣis and yakṣas)

• apsarobhiḥ: by apsarases
• apsarobhiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: apsaras (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन

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

• sevitam: frequented, inhabited
• sevitam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sev (धातु) + kta (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (PPP), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (place/mountain)

• siddha-cāraṇa-saṅghaiḥ: by groups of siddhas and cāraṇas
• siddha-cāraṇa-saṅghaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: siddha (प्रातिपदिक) + cāraṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + saṅgha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (siddhānāṃ cāraṇānāṃ saṅghaiḥ)

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

• prakīrṇam: spread about, scattered
• prakīrṇam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pra-kṝ (धातु) + kta (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (PPP), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• samanoramam: very delightful
• samanoramam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su (उपसर्ग-प्रायः) + manorama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (very charming)

• tam: that (place/mountain)
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (refers to the mountain/place)

• upaiti: approaches, visits
• upaiti: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: upa-i (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• sahasrākṣaḥ: Sahasrākṣa (Indra)
• sahasrākṣaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sahasra (प्रातिपदिक) + akṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि (sahasram akṣāṇi yasya = thousand-eyed) इन्द्र-नाम

• sadā: always
• sadā: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sadā (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय: कालवाचक (always)

• parvasu: on festival days
• parvasu: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parvan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), बहुवचन; पर्व-कालेषु (on festival/holy days)

• parvasu: on each such occasion
• parvasu: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parvan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; पुनरुक्ति (emphatic repetition)

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

• Mahendra (mountain)
• Mahārṇava (great ocean/sea)

FAQs

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

Dharma is supported by right orientation: knowing sacred and geographic landmarks helps a righteous mission proceed without confusion or wasteful wandering.

What is the narrative situation?

Sugriva describes Mt. Mahendra near/within the ocean as a notable point in the southern route of the search.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Leadership through clear guidance—Sugriva equips his team with concrete knowledge for success.