Shloka 12

उत्पातदर्शनं खरसैन्यसमागमश्च

Omens of calamity and the approach of Khara’s army

Devanagari script

तस्माद्गृहीत्वा वैदेहीं शरपाणिर्धनुर्धरः।गुहामाश्रय शैलस्य दुर्गां पादपसङ्कुलाम्।।।।

Transliteration

tasmād gṛhītvā vaidehīṃ śarapāṇir dhanurdharaḥ | guhām āśraya śailasya durgāṃ pādapasaṅkulām ||

Translation

Darum nimm Vaidehī (Sītā) mit dir; mit dem Bogen in der Hand und den Pfeilen bereit, suche Zuflucht in einer schwer zugänglichen, festen Berghöhle, dicht von Bäumen umstanden.

Word by Word

• तस्मात्: therefore
• तस्मात्: Hetu (हेतु/Cause)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तस्मात् (सर्वनाम-अव्यय/तद्-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: हेतु-अव्यय (ablatival indeclinable: 'therefore/from that')

• गृहीत्वा: having taken
• गृहीत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया/Anterior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ग्रह् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive), ‘having taken’

• वैदेहीम्: Vaidehi (Sita)
• वैदेहीम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैदेही (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• शरपाणिः: one with arrows in hand
• शरपाणिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर + पाणि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (शराः पाणौ यस्य/whose hand has arrows) used as epithet

• धनुर्धरः: bow-bearer
• धनुर्धरः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनुस् + धर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (one who holds a bow)

• गुहाम्: cave
• गुहाम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुहा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• आश्रय: take refuge
• आश्रय: Kriya (क्रिया/Command)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + श्रि (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यम-पुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• शैलस्य: of the mountain
• शैलस्य: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शैल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• दुर्गाम्: inaccessible/secure
• दुर्गाम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर्गा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘गुहाम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• पादपसङ्कुलाम्: thick with trees
• पादपसङ्कुलाम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पादप + सङ्कुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (crowded with trees); ‘गुहाम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

Context

Therefore, take shelter along with Sita in the inaccessible mountain cave, overgrown with trees, ready with your bow and arrows.

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Lakshmana
• Sita (Vaidehi)
• mountain cave (guhā)
• bow (dhanuḥ)
• arrows (śara)

FAQs

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

Protecting the vulnerable is paramount: Rama prioritizes Sītā’s safety and assigns Lakṣmaṇa the duty of guardianship while danger approaches.

What is the narrative situation?

After noticing ominous portents, Rama directs Lakshmana to move Sītā to a defensible, concealed location (a hard-to-reach mountain cave).

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Prudence and protective responsibility—Lakshmana is urged to be vigilant and prepared, embodying disciplined guardianship.