Shloka 56

पश्चिमदिशि अन्वेषणादेशः

Instructions for the Western Search Party

Transliteration

dṛṣṭāyāṃ tu narendrasya patnyām amititejasaḥ | kṛtakṛtyā bhaviṣyāmaḥ kṛtasya pratikarmaṇā || 4.42.56 ||

Translation

Lorsque l’épouse de ce roi à la splendeur sans mesure sera aperçue, notre dessein sera accompli — car nous aurons rendu, en retour, l’aide qui nous fut accordée.

Word by Word

• dṛṣṭāyām: when (she) is seen
• dṛṣṭāyām: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛṣṭā (प्रातिपदिक; from dṛś धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle used as locative absolute (क्त-कृदन्त), Feminine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; “when (she) has been seen”

• tu: then/but
• tu: Sambandha-nipāta (सम्बन्ध-निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात)

• narendrasya: of the king
• narendrasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara-indra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular; tatpuruṣa: narāṇām indraḥ

• patnyām: in/with the wife (queen)
• patnyām: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: patnī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; with dṛṣṭāyām (locative absolute)

• amitatejasaḥ: of the immeasurably splendid (king)
• amitatejasaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: amita-tejas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular; bahuvrīhi: “he whose splendor is immeasurable” (qualifies narendra)

• kṛtakṛtyāḥ: having fulfilled the duty
• kṛtakṛtyāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛta-kṛtya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; karmadhāraya: kṛtaṃ kṛtyaṃ yaiḥ = “those who have accomplished the task”

• bhaviṣyāmaḥ: we shall be
• bhaviṣyāmaḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: Future (लृट्), Parasmaipada, 1st person (उत्तमपुरुष), Plural

• kṛtasya: of the deed done
• kṛtasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṛta (प्रातिपदिक; from kṛ धातु)
• Form: Neuter, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular; “of what has been done”

• pratikarmaṇā: by recompense/return service
• pratikarmaṇā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prati-karman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; tatpuruṣa: karmaṇaḥ pratikarma = “counter-action/return service”

Context

'We will be achieving our goal when the consort of the highly glorious king Rama is found. And we will return the help he has rendered.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma (narendra, amititejas)
• Sītā (patnī; Maithilī/Vaidehī implied)

FAQs

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

Dharma is kṛtajñatā (gratitude): one must repay assistance received, fulfilling promises with truthful commitment.

What is the narrative situation?

Sugrīva frames the search for Sītā as the means by which the vānaras repay Rāma’s help and complete their obligation.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Kṛtajñatā (thankfulness) and pratijñā-pālana (keeping one’s pledge).