Shloka 21

समुद्रलङ्घनारम्भः

Commencement of the Ocean-Crossing

Devanagari script

यानि चौषधजालानि तस्मिन् जातानि पर्वते।विषघ्नान्यपि नागानां न शेकुः शमितुं विषम्।।।।

Transliteration

yāni ca auṣadha-jālāni tasmin jātāni parvate | viṣaghnāny api nāgānāṃ na śekuḥ śamituṃ viṣam ||

Translation

Selbst die Büschel heilkräftiger Kräuter, die auf jenem Berge wuchsen—berühmt als Gegengift—vermochten das Gift der dortigen Schlangen nicht zu besänftigen.

Word by Word

• yāni: which (those)
• yāni: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: Sarvanāma (सर्वनाम), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा) / Accusative (द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction/particle (समुच्चय-अव्यय)

• auṣadha-jālāni: masses/collections of medicinal herbs
• auṣadha-jālāni: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: auṣadha (प्रातिपदिक) + jāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) compound; Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा) / Accusative (द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• tasmin: on/in that
• tasmin: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: Sarvanāma (सर्वनाम), Masculine/Neuter (पुं/नपुंसक), Locative (सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• jātāni: grown/arisen
• jātāni: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: jan (धातु) + ta (क्त, क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त/कर्मणि भूतकृदन्त); Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा) / Accusative (द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• parvate: on the mountain
• parvate: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parvata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• viṣa-ghnāni: poison-destroying
• viṣa-ghnāni: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: viṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + ghná (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) compound; Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा) / Accusative (द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• api: even/also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात)

• nágānām: of the snakes
• nágānām: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nāga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध-निपात)

• śekuḥ: were able
• śekuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śak (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन)

• śamitum: to pacify/neutralize
• śamitum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/infinitival purpose)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śam (धातु)
• Form: Infinitive (तुमुन्/तुम्), expressing purpose

• viṣam: poison
• viṣam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

Context

Even the medicinal herbs grown on the mountain could not neutralize the effect of the poison of snakes.

Characters & Entities

• Parvata (mountain)
• Auṣadhi (medicinal herbs)
• Nāga (serpents)

FAQs

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

Dharma includes wise caution: the verse underscores that not every danger is easily remedied, so one must act with discernment rather than overconfidence.

What is the narrative situation?

The narration describes the extraordinary and perilous features of the mountain region near Laṅkā.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Though not a direct speech, it supports the virtue of prudence—recognizing limits and dangers in the environment.