Shloka 48

गोदावरीतटे सीतान्वेषणम्

The Search for Sītā at the Godāvarī

Devanagari script

रथाक्षमात्रा विशिखास्तपनीयविभूषणाः।कस्येमेऽभिहता बाणाः प्रकीर्णा घोरकर्मणः।।।।

Transliteration

rathākṣamātrā viśikhās tapanīyavibhūṣaṇāḥ | kasyeme 'bhihatā bāṇāḥ prakīrṇā ghorakarmaṇaḥ ||

Translation

Wessen Pfeile sind dies—mit Schäften wie eine Wagenachse, geschmückt mit glänzendem Gold—nun zerschlagen und zerstreut? Wer ist der furchtbare Täter hinter solcher Tat?

Word by Word

• रथ-अक्ष-मात्राः: of the size of a chariot-axle
• रथ-अक्ष-मात्राः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रथ (प्रातिपदिक) + अक्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + मात्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (रथस्य अक्षस्य मात्रा इव)

• विशिखाः: pointless (blunt)
• विशिखाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विशिख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘without point/barb’

• तपनीय-विभूषणाः: adorned with refined gold
• तपनीय-विभूषणाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तपनीय (प्रातिपदिक) + विभूषण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (तपनीयेन विभूषणं येषाम्)

• कस्य: whose
• कस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी, एकवचन

• इमे: these
• इमे: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• अभिहताः: smitten, destroyed
• अभिहताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभिहत (कृदन्त; √हन् with अभि-)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त) ‘struck/destroyed’

• बाणाः: arrows
• बाणाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• प्रकीर्णाः: scattered
• प्रकीर्णाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रकीर्ण (कृदन्त; √कॄ/कीर् with प्र-)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त) ‘scattered’

• घोर-कर्मणः: of dreadful deeds
• घोर-कर्मणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घोर (प्रातिपदिक) + कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः (घोरं कर्म येषाम्)

Context

Whose are these pointless arrows of the size of a chariot axle adorned with bright gold destroyed and scattered ? Who is he that has performed such terrible deeds?

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa
• bāṇa (arrows)
• ratha (chariot)

FAQs

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

Dharma requires discernment: before judging, one must examine signs and infer responsibly. Rāma models truth-seeking rather than rash accusation.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma notices unusually massive, gold-adorned arrows lying broken and scattered—evidence of a fierce battle connected to Sītā’s disappearance.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Prudence and investigative clarity (viveka) under emotional strain.