Shloka 17

दक्षिणदिशि सीतान्वेषण-आदेशः

Commissioning the Southern Search for Sītā

Devanagari script

ततस्तेनाभ्यनुज्ञाताः प्रसन्नेन महात्मना।ताम्रपर्णीं ग्राहजुष्टां तरिष्यथ महानदीम्।।।।

Transliteration

tatas tenābhyanujñātāḥ prasannena mahātmanā |

tāmraparṇīṃ grāhajuṣṭāṃ tariṣyatha mahānadīm ||

Translation

তারপর প্রসন্ন সেই মহাত্মার অনুমতি লাভ করে তোমরা কুমির-আশ্রিত মহা নদী তাম্রপর্ণীকে অতিক্রম করবে।

Word by Word

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

• tena: by him
• tena: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• abhyanujñātāḥ: permitted, given leave
• abhyanujñātāḥ: Visheshya (विशेष्य)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: abhi-anu-jñā (धातु) + kta (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; कर्तृवाच्ये विशेषण (you monkeys)

• prasannena: pleased, gracious
• prasannena: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prasanna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (mahātmanā)

• mahātmanā: by the great-souled one
• mahātmanā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समासः (mahān ātmā yasya)

• tāmraparṇīm: Tāmraparṇī (river)
• tāmraparṇīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tāmra (प्रातिपदिक) + parṇī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; नदी-नाम; तत्पुरुषः (tāmraṃ parṇaṃ yasyāḥ)

• grāha-juṣṭām: frequented by crocodiles
• grāha-juṣṭām: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: grāha (प्रातिपदिक) + juṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त-आधारित)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (grāhaiḥ juṣṭā = frequented by crocodiles) विशेषण (tāmraparṇīm)

• tariṣyatha: you (pl.) will cross
• tariṣyatha: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: tṝ (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार, मध्यम-पुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• mahānadīm: the great river
• mahānadīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + nadī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समासः (mahā nadī)

Context

'Dwelling on the top of that Malaya mountain you will find celebrated sage Agastya, resplendent like the Sun.

Characters & Entities

• Agastya (implied by context: tena mahātmanā)

FAQs

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

Dharma is propriety (maryādā): even powerful agents proceed with consent and blessing from a sage, aligning action with rightful authority.

What is the narrative situation?

Sugrīva describes the next stage after meeting Agastya—crossing the dangerous Tāmraparṇī river.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Courage guided by restraint—facing danger (crocodiles) while acting with due permission and discipline.