Shloka 31

पश्चिमदिशि अन्वेषणादेशः

Instructions for the Western Search Party

Devanagari script

तत्र प्राग्ज्योतिषं नाम जातरूपमयं पुरम्।यस्मिन्वसति दुष्टात्मा नरको नाम दानवः।।4.42.31।।

Transliteration

tatra prāgjyotiṣaṃ nāma jātarūpamayaṃ puram |

yasmin vasati duṣṭātmā narako nāma dānavaḥ || 4.42.31 ||

Translation

Dort gibt es eine Stadt namens Prāgjyotiṣa, ganz aus Gold; in ihr wohnt der dānava Naraka, von verderbter Seele.

Word by Word

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक

• प्राग्ज्योतिषम्: Prāgjyotiṣa
• प्राग्ज्योतिषम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राग्ज्योतिष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन; (proper name of a city)

• नाम: by name
• नाम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाम (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; ‘called’

• जातरूपमयम्: made of gold
• जातरूपमयम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जातरूप-मय (प्रातिपदिक; जातरूप + मय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifies पुरम्); तत्पुरुषः (made of gold)

• पुरम्: city
• पुरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन

• यस्मिन्: in which
• यस्मिन्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• वसति: dwells
• वसति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वस् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• दुष्टात्मा: evil-minded
• दुष्टात्मा: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुष्ट-आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifies नरकः); कर्मधारयः (evil-souled)

• नरकः: Naraka
• नरकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नरक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता), एकवचन; (proper name)

• नाम: by name
• नाम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाम (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; ‘named’

• दानवः: a demon
• दानवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दानव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; apposition to नरकः

Context

'On the (Varaha) mountain is the city called Pragjyotisha, which is full of gold.There lives the evil-minded demon Naraka.

Characters & Entities

• Sugrīva

FAQs

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

Dharma includes discernment and caution: recognizing seats of adharma (like the abode of Naraka) helps protect a righteous mission from distraction or harm.

What is the narrative situation?

Sugrīva continues giving notable landmarks and warnings along the western route, mentioning a famed golden city associated with a demonic presence.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Vigilance (apramāda): awareness of dangerous regions and hostile beings while pursuing a truthful objective.