Shloka 55

पश्चिमदिशि अन्वेषणादेशः

Instructions for the Western Search Party

Devanagari script

भवन्तश्चापि विक्रान्ताः प्रमाणं सर्व कर्मसु।प्रमाणमेनं संस्थाप्य पश्यध्वं पश्चिमां दिशम्।।4.42.55।।

Transliteration

bhavantaś cāpi vikrāntāḥ pramāṇaṃ sarva-karmasu | pramāṇam enaṃ saṃsthāpya paśyadhvaṃ paścimāṃ diśam || 4.42.55 ||

Translation

Auch ihr seid tapfer; und bei jedem Vorhaben bedarf es einer maßgebenden Autorität. Setzt ihn als entscheidenden Maßstab ein und zieht dann aus, um in westlicher Richtung zu suchen.

Word by Word

• bhavantaḥ: you (hon.)
• bhavantaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

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

• api: also
• api: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात) meaning “also/even”

• vikrāntāḥ: valiant/advancing
• vikrāntāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi-krānta (प्रातिपदिक; from kram धातु)
• Form: Past active participle used adjectivally (क्त-कृदन्त), Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• pramāṇam: authority/standard
• pramāṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pramāṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; predicate/object sense “as authority/standard”

• sarveṣu: in all
• sarveṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Plural; with karmasu

• karmasu: in actions/tasks
• karmasu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: karman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Plural

• pramāṇam: as authority
• pramāṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pramāṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• enam: him
• enam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: enad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• saṃsthāpya: having appointed/placed
• saṃsthāpya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-sthā (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/gerund (ल्यप्), “having established/placed”

• paśyadhvam: look/search
• paśyadhvam: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: paś (धातु)
• Form: Imperative (लोट्), Ātmanepada, 2nd person, Plural

• paścimām: western
• paścimām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: paścima (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; agrees with diśam

• diśam: direction
• diśam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: diś (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

Context

'My father-in-law will be your leader. His authority will be final in all matters. Accepthis authority and look for Vaidehi in the western direction.

FAQs

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

Dharma in collective action requires agreed authority and orderly procedure; valor must be guided by structure to serve truth and justice.

What is the narrative situation?

Sugrīva directs the party to accept a leader’s final authority and begin the western search.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Saṅgha-śāsana (disciplined cooperation): coordinated effort under recognized leadership.