Shloka 25

दक्षिणदिशि सीतान्वेषण-आदेशः

Commissioning the Southern Search for Sītā

Devanagari script

तत्र सर्वात्मना सीता मार्गितव्या विशेषतः।स हि देशस्तु वध्यस्य रावणस्य दुरात्मनः।।4.41.25।।राक्षसाधिपतेर्वासस्सहस्राक्षसमद्युतेः।

Transliteration

tatra sarvātmanā sītā mārgitavyā viśeṣataḥ |

sa hi deśas tu vadhyasya rāvaṇasya durātmanaḥ ||

rākṣasādhipater vāsaḥ sahasrākṣasamadyuteḥ |

Translation

Là, Sītā doit être recherchée de tout son être, avec un soin tout particulier ; car cette contrée est la demeure de Rāvaṇa au cœur mauvais, seigneur des rākṣasas, digne d’être mis à mort, resplendissant d’un éclat pareil à celui d’Indra.

Word by Word

• tatra: there
• tatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: स्थानवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb)

• sarvātmanā: with all effort; wholly
• sarvātmanā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sarvātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), एकवचन; अव्ययीभावार्थे प्रयोगः ‘सर्वेण आत्मना’ = wholly (instrumental used adverbially)

• sītā: Sita
• sītā: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sītā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• mārgitavyā: must be searched for
• mārgitavyā: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: mṛg (धातु) + tavya (कृत्)
• Form: तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (gerundive/future passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषणम् (to be searched)

• viśeṣataḥ: especially
• viśeṣataḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: viśeṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (adverb)

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

• hi: indeed; for
• hi: Sambandha/Emphasis (निपातार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

• deśaḥ: region; place
• deśaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• tu: but; and
• tu: Sambandha/Contrast (निपातार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (contrastive particle)

• vadhyasya: of the one to be killed
• vadhyasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vadhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (of one fit to be slain)

• rāvaṇasya: of Ravana
• rāvaṇasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāvaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• durātmanaḥ: of the evil-minded (one)
• durātmanaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: durātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः ‘दुष्ट आत्मा यस्य’

• rākṣasādhipateḥ: of the lord of demons
• rākṣasādhipateḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rākṣasa + adhipati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः ‘राक्षसानाम् अधिपतिः’

• vāsaḥ: dwelling; abode
• vāsaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• sahasrākṣa-samadyuteḥ: of him whose radiance equals Indra’s
• sahasrākṣa-samadyuteḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sahasrākṣa + samadyuti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; उपमान-तत्पुरुषः ‘सहस्राक्षस्य (इन्द्रस्य) समा द्युतिः यस्य’

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Rāvaṇa
• Rākṣasas
• Indra (Sahasrākṣa)

FAQs

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

Dharma is twofold: wholehearted effort to rescue the innocent (Sītā), and righteous punishment of grave wrongdoing (Rāvaṇa is called vadhya—deserving to be slain).

What is the narrative situation?

Sugriva identifies the likely region connected to Rāvaṇa’s domain and urges an intensified search for Sītā there.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Kāryaniṣṭhā (total commitment to the mission) combined with moral clarity about evil and justice.