Shloka 1

Devanagari script

अथ प्रतिसमादिष्टो लक्ष्मणः परवीरहा।प्रविवेश गुहां घोरां किष्किन्धां रामशासनात्।।।।

Transliteration

atha pratisamādiṣṭo lakṣmaṇaḥ paravīrahā |

praviveśa guhāṃ ghorāṃ kiṣkindhāṃ rāmaśāsanāt ||

Translation

Alors Lakṣmaṇa—vainqueur des guerriers ennemis—ayant reçu l’ordre comme il se doit, entra dans la redoutable cité-caverne de Kiṣkindhā, en obéissance au commandement de Rāma.

Word by Word

• atha: then
• atha: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (conjunction/adverb: then/now)

• pratisamādiṣṭaḥ: having been summoned/ordered
• pratisamādiṣṭaḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prati-sam-√diś (दिश्) (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘आदिष्टः’ = commanded/called back

• lakṣmaṇaḥ: Lakshmana
• lakṣmaṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lakṣmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• paravīrahā: slayer of enemy heroes
• paravīrahā: Apposition (समनाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक) + vīra (प्रातिपदिक) + han (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः—‘परान् वीरान् हन्ति’ (slayer of enemy-heroes)

• praviveśa: entered
• praviveśa: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√viś (विश्) (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

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

• ghorām: terrible
• ghorām: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ghora (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘गुहाम्’ इति विशेषणम्

• kiṣkindhām: Kishkindha
• kiṣkindhām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kiṣkindhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; नगर/स्थान-नाम

• rāmaśāsanāt: from/according to Rama's command
• rāmaśāsanāt: Hetu/Apadana (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक) + śāsana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—‘रामस्य शासनात्’

Context

Instructed by Rama, and having been permitted, Lakshmana, the slayer of enemies entered the frightful cave of Kishkinda.

Characters & Entities

• Lakshmana
• Rama
• Kishkindha

FAQs

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

Dharma here is disciplined obedience to a rightful command: Lakṣmaṇa acts not from impulse but from Rāma’s directive, showing duty-bound service (sevā) aligned with righteousness.

What is the narrative situation?

After being instructed by Rāma, Lakṣmaṇa proceeds into Kiṣkindhā—described as a formidable cavern—beginning his approach into the vānaras’ royal domain.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Lakṣmaṇa’s steadfast loyalty and readiness to act for Rāma’s mission, even when the setting is intimidating and politically sensitive.