Shloka 12

ऋक्षबिलप्रवेशः

Entry into the Rikshabilam Cave

Devanagari script

नानासत्त्वसमाकीर्णं दैत्येन्द्रनिलयोपमम्।।।।दुर्दर्शमतिघोरं च दुर्विगाहं च सर्वशः।

Transliteration

nānāsattvasamākīrṇaṃ daityendranilayopamam |

durdarśam atighoraṃ ca durvigāhaṃ ca sarvaśaḥ ||

Translation

Es wimmelte von mannigfaltigen Wesen; es glich der Wohnstatt eines Herrn der Daityas—schrecklich anzusehen, überaus grauenvoll und von allen Seiten unzugänglich.

Word by Word

• नाना-सत्त्व-समाकीर्णम्: crowded with various creatures
• नाना-सत्त्व-समाकीर्णम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नाना (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + सत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक) + समाकीर्ण (कृदन्त, सम् + आ + √कॄ/√कीर् (धातु) 'to scatter/fill')
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; 'बिलम्' इत्यस्य विशेषण; समाकीर्ण = क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (filled/crowded)

• दैत्येन्द्र-निलय-उपमम्: like the abode of the demon-king
• दैत्येन्द्र-निलय-उपमम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दैत्येन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक) + निलय (प्रातिपदिक) + उपम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; 'बिलम्' इत्यस्य विशेषण

• दुर्दर्शम्: hard/terrible to look at
• दुर्दर्शम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर् + दर्श (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्ताधारित)
• Form: उपपद-तत्पुरुष; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; 'बिलम्' इत्यस्य विशेषण

• अति-घोरम्: exceedingly dreadful
• अति-घोरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अति (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + घोर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; 'बिलम्' इत्यस्य विशेषण

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• दुर्विगाहम्: hard to enter/inaccessible
• दुर्विगाहम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर् + विगाह (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्ताधारित; √गाह्)
• Form: उपपद-तत्पुरुष; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; 'बिलम्' इत्यस्य विशेषण

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• सर्वशः: everywhere/altogether
• सर्वशः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वशः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकार/व्याप्तिवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: 'in every way/throughout')

Context

The cave was crowded with creatures of different kinds. It looked like the abode of the king of demons difficult (to enter), dreadful and impenetrable.

Characters & Entities

• Cave (bila)

FAQs

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

Dharma includes truthful appraisal of reality (satya in observation): naming danger as danger enables responsible action and protects the community.

What is the narrative situation?

The text describes the cave’s ominous nature—full of creatures and seemingly demonic—setting the stakes for the monkeys’ next decision.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Alertness and realism—seeing the world clearly rather than being lulled by appearances (like fragrance).