Shloka 29

Devanagari script

इह शाखामृगास्सिंहा द्वीपिव्याघ्रमृगास्तथा।ऋक्षास्तरक्षवः कङ्काः कथं तेभ्यो न बिभ्यसि।।।।

Transliteration

iha śākhāmṛgāḥ siṃhā dvīpi-vyāghra-mṛgās tathā |

ṛkṣās tarakṣavaḥ kaṅkāḥ kathaṃ tebhyo na bibhyasi ||

Translation

Ici se trouvent des singes et des lions, ainsi que des léopards, des tigres et d’autres bêtes sauvages ; des ours, des hyènes et des oiseaux kanka aussi — comment se fait-il que tu ne les craignes pas ?

Word by Word

• iha: here
• iha: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iha (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय

• śākhāmṛgāḥ: monkeys
• śākhāmṛgāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śākhā + mṛga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; 'branch-animals' (monkeys); समासः: शाखायां मृगाः

• siṃhāḥ: lions
• siṃhāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: siṃha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• dvīpi-vyāghra-mṛgāḥ: leopards, tigers, and other beasts
• dvīpi-vyāghra-mṛgāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvīpin + vyāghra + mṛga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (copulative): dvīpinaḥ ca vyāghrāḥ ca mṛgāḥ ca

• tathā: also
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/प्रकार-अव्यय (also/likewise)

• ṛkṣāḥ: bears
• ṛkṣāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṛkṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• tarakṣavaḥ: hyenas
• tarakṣavaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tarakṣu (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; Masculine, Nominative plural

• kaṅkāḥ: kanka birds/herons
• kaṅkāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kaṅka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• katham: how
• katham: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: katham (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्न-अव्यय

• tebhyaḥ: from them/of them
• tebhyaḥ: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पञ्चमी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Ablative plural

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय

• bibhyasi: you fear
• bibhyasi: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhī (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), आत्मनेपद; मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन

Context

And then Ravana wearing fine orange robes, with hair knotted on the head, carrying a parasol, wearing sandals, hanging a kamandalu (water-pot), and a staff on the auspicious left shoulder walked towards Vaidehi like a mendicant.

Characters & Entities

• siṃha (lion)
• ṛkṣa (bear)
• kaṅka (kanka bird)

FAQs

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

It points to the tension between courage and caution: dharma values fearlessness, but not recklessness—especially in perilous environments.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa lists the forest’s dangers to frame Sītā’s presence as extraordinary and to draw out her identity.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s composure and steadiness are implied, even amid a wilderness portrayed as threatening.