Shloka 1

दक्षिणदिशि सीतान्वेषण-आदेशः

Commissioning the Southern Search for Sītā

Devanagari script

ततः प्रस्थाप्य सुग्रीवस्तन्महद्वानरं बलम्।दक्षिणां प्रेषयामास वानरानभिलक्षितान्।।।।

Transliteration

tataḥ prasthāpya sugrīvas tan mahad vānaraṃ balam |

dakṣiṇāṃ preṣayāmāsa vānarān abhilakṣitān || 4.41.1 ||

Translation

Daraufhin ordnete Sugrīva jenes große Heer der Vānara und entsandte auserlesene, ausgezeichnete Affen gen Süden.

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: Adverbial (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रमसूचक (then)

• प्रस्थाप्य: having dispatched
• प्रस्थाप्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र+√स्था (धातु) + णिच् + ल्यप् (कृदन्त)
• Form: ल्यबन्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), causative sense (having dispatched/sent forth)

• सुग्रीवः: Sugriva
• सुग्रीवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुग्रीव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Case 1), एकवचन

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Case 2), एकवचन; निर्देशक विशेषण (that)

• महत्: great
• महत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (great)

• वानरम्: monkey (as modifier)
• वानरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वानर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; बलम् इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषण (monkey-)

• बलम्: army/force
• बलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Case 2), एकवचन

• दक्षिणाम्: southern
• दक्षिणाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दक्षिणा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Case 2), एकवचन; दिशम् (understood) इति विशेषण

• प्रेषयामास: sent
• प्रेषयामास: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र+√इष्/√प्रेष् (धातु) + णिच्
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; causative (sent)

• वानरान्: monkeys
• वानरान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वानर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Case 2), बहुवचन

• अभिलक्षितान्: chosen/distinguished
• अभिलक्षितान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभि+√लक्ष् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (selected/marked out)

Context

Sugriva then sends in the southern direction another vanara army known for their excellence.

Characters & Entities

• Sugrīva
• Southern direction (Dakṣiṇā diś)

FAQs

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

Dharma as organized service: righteous objectives are served by assigning capable persons and directing them systematically.

What is the narrative situation?

After earlier deployments, Sugrīva now sends an excellent contingent to search in the southern direction.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Strategic leadership—selecting qualified agents and delegating effectively.