Shloka 4

किष्किन्धाप्रवेशः—लक्ष्मणस्य कोपः, तारासान्त्वम्, सुग्रीवदर्शनम्

Lakshmana Enters Kishkindha: Anger, Tara’s Mediation, and Sugriva Encountered

Devanagari script

स तां रत्नमयीं श्रीमान्दिव्यां पुष्पितकाननाम्।रम्यां रत्नसमाकीर्णां ददर्श महतीं गुहाम्।।।।

Transliteration

sa tāṃ ratnamayīṃ śrīmān divyāṃ puṣpita-kānanām | ramyāṃ ratna-samākīrṇāṃ dadarśa mahatīṃ guhām ||

Translation

He—illustrious and blessed with fortune—beheld that vast cave: divine and gem-wrought, delightful to the eye, strewn with jewels and adorned with flowering groves.

Word by Word

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• tām: that
• tām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ratnamayīm: made of/inlaid with gems
• ratnamayīm: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ratna (प्रातिपदिक) + mayaṭ (मयट्)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘गुहाम्’ इति विशेषणम्

• śrīmān: illustrious
• śrīmān: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śrīmat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्तृ-विशेषणम्

• divyām: divine
• divyām: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: divya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘गुहाम्’ इति विशेषणम्

• puṣpitakānanām: having flowering groves
• puṣpitakānanām: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: puṣpita (कृदन्त; √puṣp पुष्प्) + kānana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुषार्थः—‘पुष्पितं काननं यस्याम्’ (flowering-grove(-like))

• ramyām: beautiful
• ramyām: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ramya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘गुहाम्’ इति विशेषणम्

• ratnasamākīrṇām: strewn with gems
• ratnasamākīrṇām: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ratna (प्रातिपदिक) + sam-ā-√kṝ (कॄ) (धातु)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त ‘समाकीर्ण’ with उपपद-तत्पुरुषः—‘रत्नैः समाकीर्णा’

• dadarśa: saw
• dadarśa: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dṛś (दृश्) (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार, परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• mahatīm: great/huge
• mahatīm: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘गुहाम्’ इति विशेषणम्

• guhām: cave
• guhām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Context

Lakshmana, the bestower of fortune, saw the mammoth cave inlaid with gems and precious stones and forests full of delightful flowers.

Characters & Entities

• Lakṣmaṇa

FAQs

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

Prosperity is morally neutral; dharma depends on whether wealth supports duty. The opulence described sets up the ethical contrast with neglected responsibility.

What is the narrative situation?

Lakṣmaṇa observes the luxurious, jewel-filled dwelling area in Kiṣkindhā while seeking Sugrīva to press for fulfillment of the promised search for Sītā.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Lakṣmaṇa’s vigilance and commitment to purpose—he is not distracted by splendor.