Shloka 46

दक्षिणदिशि सीतान्वेषण-आदेशः

Commissioning the Southern Search for Sītā

Devanagari script

राजधानी यमस्यैषा कष्टेन तमसा वृता।एतावदेव युष्माभिर्वीरा वानरपुङ्गवाः।।।।शक्यं विचेतुं गन्तुं वा नातो गतिमतां गतिः।

Transliteration

rājadhānī yamasyaiṣā kaṣṭena tamasā vṛtā |

ētāvad eva yuṣmābhir vīrā vānarapuṅgavāḥ |

śakyaṃ vicetuṃ gantuṃ vā nāto gatimatāṃ gatiḥ ||

Translation

Ésta es la capital de Yama, envuelta en una oscuridad opresiva. Sólo hasta aquí, héroes, excelsos entre los Vánaras, podéis avanzar o explorar; más allá no hay camino, ni siquiera para los más veloces.

Word by Word

• rājadhānī: capital city
• rājadhānī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājadhānī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• yamasya: of Yama
• yamasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• eṣā: this
• eṣā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (pronoun)

• kaṣṭena: with grievous
• kaṣṭena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kaṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; साधन/हेतुवाचक (with harsh/painful)

• tamasā: darkness
• tamasā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tamas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• vṛtā: covered
• vṛtā: Kriyā (क्रिया/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vṛ (धातु) + kta (कृत्)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय (covered)

• etāvat: this much; up to here
• etāvat: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: etāvat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; परिमाणवाचक (so much/this far)

• eva: only
• eva: Emphasis (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-निपात (emphatic particle)

• yuṣmābhiḥ: by you
• yuṣmābhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया, बहुवचन (instrumental: by you)

• vīrāḥ: O heroes
• vīrāḥ: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vīra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन/प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• vānarapuṅgavāḥ: O best of monkeys
• vānarapuṅgavāḥ: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vānara + puṅgava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन/प्रथमा, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः ‘वानराणां पुंगवाः’

• śakyam: possible
• śakyam: Kriyā (क्रिया/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śakya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय (possible)

• vicetum: to search
• vicetum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/अनन्तरक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi + cit (धातु) + tumun (कृत्)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (infinitive), कर्मप्रवचन (to search)

• gantum: to go
• gantum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/अनन्तरक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: gam (धातु) + tumun (कृत्)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (infinitive)

• vā: or
• vā: Coordination (विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्प-निपात (disjunctive particle)

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

• ataḥ: beyond this; from here
• ataḥ: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अपादानार्थक-अव्यय (from here/beyond this)

• gatimatām: of the capable movers
• gatimatām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gatimat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (of those who have movement/advance)

• gatiḥ: path; course
• gatiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Context

'The divine people who have earned a place in heaven stay there at the end of their life on earth. Beyond, lies the dreadful world of deceased ancestors. It is not possible for you to enter that place.

Characters & Entities

• Yama
• Darkness (tamas)

FAQs

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

Dharma is courageous action governed by prudence: bravery does not mean violating inviolate limits; righteous effort stays within what is possible and permitted.

What is the narrative situation?

Sugriva warns the southern party that their search can extend only up to Yama’s dark city; beyond it the route becomes inaccessible.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Balanced heroism: valor combined with restraint and respect for cosmic order.