Shloka 32

दक्षिणदिशि सीतान्वेषण-आदेशः

Commissioning the Southern Search for Sītā

Devanagari script

प्रणम्य शिरसा शैलं तं विमार्गत वानराः।तमतिक्रम्य दुर्धर्ष स्सूर्यवान्नाम पर्वतः।।।।अध्वना दुर्विगाहेन योजनानि चतुर्दश।

Transliteration

praṇamya śirasā śailaṃ taṃ vimārgata vānarāḥ |

tam atikramya durdharṣaḥ sūryavān nāma parvataḥ || 4.41.32 ||

adhvanā durvigāhena yojanāni caturdaśa |

Translation

يا معشرَ الفانارا، اخفضوا رؤوسكم سجودًا لتلك الجبل وامضوا في طلبكم. وبعده جبلٌ منيعٌ لا يُقهر يُدعى سُوريَفان (Sūryavān)، ولا يُنال إلا بعد مسيرٍ شاقٍّ قدره أربعَ عشرةَ يوجنة.

Word by Word

ततःthen, thereafter

तम्that (mountain)

अपिalso, even

अतिक्रम्यhaving crossed

वैद्युतःVaidyuta

नामnamed

पर्वतःmountain

सर्वकामफलैःwith wish-fulfilling fruits

वृक्षैःwith trees

सर्वकालमनोहरैःdelightful in all seasons

Context

'O monkeys! bowing down to that mountain, proceed in search of Sita. O unassailable vanaras, beyond this mountain is another called Suryavan. It is at a distance of fourteen yojanas and it is difficult to cover that distance.

Characters & Entities

yojana (distance measure)

vānaras (searchers)

FAQs

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

Dharma combines reverence with resolve: one should honor what is worthy (bowing to the mountain) and still persist in one’s duty despite hardship (the difficult fourteen-yojana passage).

What is the narrative situation?

Sugrīva gives step-by-step travel guidance to the southern party, naming the next major mountain and warning of the challenging distance.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Endurance in service: the searchers are expected to proceed steadily through difficult terrain without abandoning the mission.