Shloka 52

पश्चिमदिशि अन्वेषणादेशः

Instructions for the Western Search Party

Devanagari script

अधिगम्य तु वैदेहीं निलयं रावणस्य च।अस्त पर्वतमासाद्य पूर्णे मासे निवर्तत।।4.42.52।।

Transliteration

adhigamya tu vaidehīṃ nilayaṃ rāvaṇasya ca | asta-parvatam āsādya pūrṇe māse nivartata || 4.42.52 ||

Translation

Nachdem ihr Vaidehī (Sītā) und auch Rāvaṇas Wohnstatt ausfindig gemacht habt, erreicht den Berg des Sonnenuntergangs und kehrt zurück, wenn ein voller Monat vollendet ist.

Word by Word

• adhigamya: having found out
• adhigamya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: adhi-gam (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/gerund (ल्यप्), “having found/ascertained”

• tu: but/and
• tu: Sambandha-nipāta (सम्बन्ध-निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात) indicating contrast/continuation

• vaidehīm: Vaidehi (Sita)
• vaidehīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaidehī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• nilayam: abode
• nilayam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nilaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• rāvaṇasya: of Ravana
• rāvaṇasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāvaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय-अव्यय)

• astaparvatam: the Asta mountain
• astaparvatam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asta + parvata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; karmadhāraya: astaḥ parvataḥ = “the setting mountain (Asta-parvata)”

• āsādya: having reached
• āsādya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-sad (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/gerund (ल्यप्), “having reached”

• pūrṇe: when completed
• pūrṇe: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pūrṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; agrees with māse

• māse: in a month
• māse: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: māsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• nivartata: return (you all)
• nivartata: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-vṛt (धातु)
• Form: Imperative (लोट्), Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद), 2nd person (मध्यमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन)

Context

'Go and find out Sita and the abode of Ravana. After this, return to the mountain behind which the Sun sets and come back on completion of a month.

Characters & Entities

• Vaidehī (Sītā)
• Rāvaṇa

FAQs

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

Dharma as accountability: a righteous task must be completed with clear objectives (find Sītā, locate Rāvaṇa) and within an agreed time.

What is the narrative situation?

Sugrīva gives operational goals and a deadline for the western search team.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Niṣṭhā (commitment) expressed as a time-bound, goal-oriented service to Rāma’s cause.