Shloka 8

अष्टपञ्चाशः सर्गः (Sarga 58)

Daśaratha Questions Sumantra; Messages from the Forest Threshold

Devanagari script

व्यालैर्मृगैराचरितं कृष्णसर्पनिषेवितम्।कथं कुमारौ वैदेह्या सार्धं वन मुपस्थितौ।।।।

Transliteration

vyālair mṛgair ācaritaṃ kṛṣṇa-sarpa-niṣevitam |

kathaṃ kumārau vaidehyā sārdhaṃ vanam upasthitau ||

Translation

Wie können die beiden Prinzen zusammen mit Vaidehī in einem Wald verweilen, den wilde Tiere durchstreifen und in dem schwarze Schlangen hausen?

Word by Word

• vyālaiḥ: by wild beasts/serpents
• vyālaiḥ: Karaṇa/Hetu (करण/agent-like instrumental)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vyāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā (Instr/3rd), Bahuvacana

• mṛgaiḥ: by animals
• mṛgaiḥ: Karaṇa/Hetu (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mṛga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā (Instr/3rd), Bahuvacana

• ācaritam: frequented/roamed
• ācaritam: Karma (कर्म-viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ā-√car (धातु)
• Form: Kṛdanta: Kta (PPP), Napuṃsakaliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; viśeṣaṇa of vanam

• kṛṣṇa-sarpa-niṣevitam: inhabited by black snakes
• kṛṣṇa-sarpa-niṣevitam: Karma (कर्म-viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛṣṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + sarpa (प्रातिपदिक) + niṣevita (कृदन्त/PPP of ni-√sev)
• Form: Samāsa: tatpuruṣa (‘resorted to by black snakes’); Napuṃsakaliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; viśeṣaṇa of vanam

• katham: how
• katham: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: katham (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; interrogative adverb

• kumārau: the two princes
• kumārau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kumāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (Nom/1st), Dvivacana (Dual)

• vaidehyā: with Vaidehī (Sītā)
• vaidehyā: Sahakārī (सहकारि/Accompaniment)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaidehī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Tṛtīyā (Instr/3rd), Ekavacana

• sārdham: together (with)
• sārdham: Sahārtha (सहार्थ/with)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sārdham (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb/preposition meaning ‘together with’

• vanam: the forest
• vanam: Karma (कर्म; goal/object with upasthitau)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• upasthitau: have come/arrived
• upasthitau: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: upa-√sthā (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ-lakāra (Perfect), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Dvivacana (Dual), Ātmanepada

Context

How can the two young men along with Vaidehi live in the forest infested with black cobras and wicked, wild animals?

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa
• Sītā (Vaidehī)
• forest (vana)

FAQs

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

Dharma here highlights responsibility and protection: the rightful concern for the safety of vulnerable companions (especially Sītā) amid hardship, even while honoring vows and truth.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha imagines the dangers of the wilderness and worries about Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa living there with Sītā.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Lakṣmaṇa’s protective loyalty and Rāma’s guardianship—virtues of duty toward family and dependents under adverse conditions.