Shloka 36

पूर्वदिशि सीतामार्गण-नियोगः

Deployment to the Eastern Quarter for the Search of Sita

Devanagari script

तत्रासुरा महाकायाश्छायां गृह्णन्ति नित्यशः।ब्रह्मणा समनुज्ञाता दीर्घकालं बुभुक्षिताः।।4.40.36।।

Transliteration

tatrāsurā mahākāyāś chāyāṃ gṛhṇanti nityaśaḥ | brahmaṇā samanujñātā dīrghakālaṃ bubhukṣitāḥ || 4.40.36 ||

Translation

Dort ergreifen Asuras von riesigem Leib unablässig die Schatten (der Vorübergehenden); lange vom Hunger gequält, haben sie von Brahmā die Erlaubnis erhalten.

Word by Word

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of place)

• असुराः: demons
• असुराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), बहुवचन

• महाकायाः: huge-bodied
• महाकायाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा + काय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), बहुवचन; कर्मधारय: 'महान् कायः येषाम्'

• छायाम्: shadow
• छायाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: छाया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन

• गृह्णन्ति: seize/catch
• गृह्णन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ग्रह् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन

• नित्यशः: constantly
• नित्यशः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्यशः (अव्यय)
• Form: आवृत्तिवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: always/constantly)

• ब्रह्मणा: by Brahmā
• ब्रह्मणा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचन

• समनुज्ञाताः: permitted
• समनुज्ञाताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + अनु + ज्ञा (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), बहुवचन; 'having been permitted/authorized'

• दीर्घकालम्: for a long time
• दीर्घकालम्: Kala-adhikarana (कालाधिकरण/duration)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दीर्घ + काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन; कालावधि-अर्थे (duration)

• बुभुक्षिताः: very hungry
• बुभुक्षिताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भुज् (धातु) + सन् (desiderative) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: देशिदेरटिव-धातोः (desiderative stem 'बुभुक्ष') क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), बहुवचन; 'having become hungry/very hungry'

Context

'Demons of huge bodies catch the shadows of passers-by in that place as they have been hungry for long and have the permission of Brahma to do so.

Characters & Entities

• Asura
• Brahmā

FAQs

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

Dharma includes prudent vigilance: a righteous mission does not ignore danger; it recognizes threats and proceeds wisely without abandoning the truth-bound objective.

What is the narrative situation?

Sugrīva warns the searchers of supernatural hazards in the oceanic/island regions.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Practical wisdom—courage guided by caution.