Shloka 20

पश्चिमदिशि अन्वेषणादेशः

Instructions for the Western Search Party

Devanagari script

कोट्यस्तत्र चतुर्विंशद्गन्धर्वाणां तपस्विनाम्।।4.42.20।।वसन्त्यग्निनिकाशानां घोराणां कामरूपिणाम्।

Transliteration

koṭyas tatra caturviṃśad gandharvāṇāṃ tapasvinām |

vasanty agninīkāśānāṃ ghorāṇāṃ kāmarūpiṇām ||

Translation

Là demeurent vingt-quatre crores de Gandharvas, menant une vie d’austérité—terribles d’aspect, flamboyants comme le feu, et capables de prendre forme à leur gré.

Word by Word

• koṭyaḥ: crores
• koṭyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: koṭi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन)

• tatra: there
• tatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (देशवाचक अव्यय)

• caturviṃśat: twenty-four
• caturviṃśat: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: caturviṃśat (संख्याशब्द/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Numeral (संख्यावाचक), Indeclinable-like in use; qualifying gandharvāṇām

• gandharvāṇām: of Gandharvas
• gandharvāṇām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gandharva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Plural (बहुवचन)

• tapasvinām: of ascetics
• tapasvinām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tapasvin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Plural (बहुवचन)

• vasanti: reside
• vasanti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vas (वस्)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (लट्/Present), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन)

• agninīkāśānām: of those blazing like fire
• agninīkāśānām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: agni (प्रातिपदिक) + nīkāśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) compound: agni-nīkāśa (‘fire-like’); Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Plural (बहुवचन)

• ghorāṇām: of the terrible
• ghorāṇām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ghora (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Plural (बहुवचन)

• kāmarūpiṇām: of shape-shifters
• kāmarūpiṇām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kāma (प्रातिपदिक) + rūpin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) compound: kāma-rūpin; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठī/6), Plural (बहुवचन)

Context

'There dwell twentyfour crore of terrific gandharvas blazing like fire who can assume any form.They lead an ascetic life.

Characters & Entities

• Gandharvas

FAQs

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

Dharma here emphasizes disciplined awareness: recognizing the presence and power of other beings and acting with restraint rather than reckless intrusion.

What is the narrative situation?

Sugriva briefs the monkey search-party about dangers and notable regions in the western direction while they search for Sītā (Jānakī).

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Practical wisdom (nīti) and self-control—knowing when caution is the righteous course.