Shloka 24

Saptajana-āśrama Darśana and the Approach to Kiṣkindhā

Hermitage of Seven Sages; March toward Vāli’s Capital

Devanagari script

एते वृक्षाः प्रकाशन्ते धूमसंसक्तमस्तकाः।मेघजालप्रतिच्छन्ना वैढूर्यगिरयो यथा।।

Transliteration

ete vṛkṣāḥ prakāśante dhūma-saṃsakta-mastakāḥ | meghajāla-praticchannā vaiḍūrya-girayo yathā ||

Translation

Diese Bäume leuchten, ihre Kronen vom Rauch umhüllt; wie Vaidūrya-Berge, von einem Netz aus Wolken verhangen.

Word by Word

• एते: these
• एते: Karta-anvaya (कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण (वृक्षाः)

• वृक्षाः: trees
• वृक्षाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), बहुवचन

• प्रकाशन्ते: shine/appear
• प्रकाशन्ते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र+√काश् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद

• धूमसंसक्तमस्तकाः: with tops clung/covered by smoke
• धूमसंसक्तमस्तकाः: Karta-anvaya (कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धूम+संसक्त+मस्तक (प्रातिपदिक; √सञ्ज् क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहि (धूमेन संसक्तं मस्तकं येषाम्) विशेषण (वृक्षाः)

• मेघजालप्रतिच्छन्नाः: covered by a net of clouds
• मेघजालप्रतिच्छन्नाः: Karta-anvaya (कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मेघ+जाल+प्रतिच्छन्न (प्रातिपदिक; प्रति+√छद् क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहि (मेघजालेन प्रतिच्छन्नाः) विशेषण (गिरयः)

• वैढूर्यगिरयः: Vaidūrya mountains
• वैढूर्यगिरयः: Upameya (उपमेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैढूर्य+गिरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (उपमेय), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (वैढूर्य-नामकाः गिरयः)

• यथा: as
• यथा: Upamā-dyotaka (उपमा-द्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमा/प्रकार (as/like)

Context

'These tree-tops covered with thick smoke glow like mountains of Vaidurya concealed by a cluster of clouds.

Characters & Entities

• vṛkṣa (trees)
• dhūma (smoke)
• megha (clouds)
• Vaidūrya (gem/mountain image)

FAQs

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

The verse frames dharma as harmony between inner practice and outer world: sustained sacred action transforms the environment into an auspicious, luminous landscape.

What is the narrative situation?

The speaker continues describing the hermitage’s extraordinary appearance, using a gem-mountain simile to convey radiance through smoke and cloud-like veiling.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Contemplative perception: seeing sacred meaning in natural signs shaped by disciplined living.