Shloka 4.51.19

स्वयंप्रभा-प्रश्नोत्तरम् / Svayamprabha Explains the Golden Forest and Questions the Vanaras

Devanagari script

इमान्यभ्यवहार्याणि मूलानि च फलानि च।।4.51.19।।भुक्त्वा पीत्वा च पानीयं सर्वं मे वक्तुमर्हथ।

Transliteration

mahad dharaṇyā vivaraṃ praviṣṭāḥ sma pipāsitāḥ | imāṃs tv evaṃvidhān bhāvān vividhān adbhutopamān || 4.51.3 || dṛṣṭvā vayaṃ pravyathitāḥ sambhrāntā naṣṭacetasaḥ |

Translation

Parched with thirst, we entered this vast opening in the earth; and seeing these many extraordinary marvels, we became shaken, bewildered, and almost lost our senses.

Context

'Eat these wonderful roots and fruits and have these drinks and then tell me all about you.ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē kiṣkindhākāṇḍē ēkapañcaśassargaḥ৷৷Thus ends of the fifty-first sarga in Kishkindakanda of the first epic, the Holy Ramayana composed by sage Valmiki.

Characters & Entities

• dharaṇī (earth)
• vivara (chasm/opening)
• bila (cave)

FAQs

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

Humility before the unknown: dharma includes recognizing one’s limits and seeking rightful guidance rather than acting rashly amid marvels.

What is the narrative situation?

The vanaras describe how thirst led them into a great subterranean opening and how the extraordinary sights inside left them disoriented.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Prudence—acknowledging confusion and implicitly inviting instruction from a wiser resident (the ascetic).