Shloka 13

पृथिवीमण्डलपरिज्ञानम्

Sugriva on Surveying the Earth’s Regions

Devanagari script

आदर्शतलसङ्काशा ततो वै पृथिवी मया।अलातचक्रप्रतिमा दृष्टा गोष्पदवत्तदा।।4.46.13।।

Transliteration

ādarśatalasaṅkāśā tato vai pṛthivī mayā |

alātacakrapratimā dṛṣṭā goṣpadavat tadā || 4.46.13 ||

Translation

Da erschien mir die Erde wie die Fläche eines Spiegels—gleich einem wirbelnden Feuerbrand—und damals schien sie so klein wie der Abdruck eines Kuhhufs.

Word by Word

• आदर्शतलसङ्काशा: like a mirror’s surface
• आदर्शतलसङ्काशा: Karta-anvayi (कर्ता-विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आदर्श-तल (प्रातिपदिक) + सङ्काश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः; स्त्रीलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्; पृथिवी-विशेषणम्; ‘आदर्शतलस्य इव सङ्काशा’ (like a mirror-surface)

• ततः: then
• ततः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; अनन्तरार्थक

• वै: indeed
• वै: Nipata (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; निश्चयार्थक/खल्वर्थक-निपात (indeed)

• पृथिवी: the earth
• पृथिवी: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पृथिवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्

• मया: by me
• मया: Kartr-karana (कर्तृकरण/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचनम्; सर्वनाम

• अलातचक्रप्रतिमा: like a firebrand-circle
• अलातचक्रप्रतिमा: Karta-anvayi (कर्ता-विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अलात-चक्र (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रतिमा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः; स्त्रीलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्; पृथिवी-विशेषणम्; ‘अलातचक्रस्य इव प्रतिमा’

• दृष्टा: was seen / I saw
• दृष्टा: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकारः (Imperfect/Past) आत्मनेपद-प्रयोगः; प्रथम-पुरुषः, एकवचनम्; अर्थतः ‘अदर्शम्’ (I saw)

• गोष्पदवत्: like a cow’s hoofprint
• गोष्पदवत्: Upamana (उपमान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: गोष्पद (प्रातिपदिक) + वत् (तद्धित)
• Form: वत्-प्रत्ययान्त तुलनार्थक-अव्ययप्रयोगः (like/as)

• तदा: then
• तदा: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; कालवाचक (at that time)

Characters & Entities

• Sugrīva
• Rāma
• Earth (Pṛthivī)

FAQs

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

A dharmic insight of perspective: personal turmoil can make the vast world seem small and unstable—reminding one to seek steadiness in truth and right conduct rather than being swept by fear.

What is the narrative situation?

Sugrīva describes the dizzying speed and disorientation of his flight from Vālī, using vivid similes for how the world appeared.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Reflective honesty—Sugrīva communicates his lived experience without exaggeration, aiding truthful understanding.