Shloka 23

पूर्वदिशि सीतामार्गण-नियोगः

Deployment to the Eastern Quarter for the Search of Sita

Devanagari script

नदीं भागीरथीं रम्यां सरयूं कौशिकीं तथा।।4.40.20।।कालिन्दीं यमुनां रम्यां यामुनं च महागिरिम्।सरस्वतीं च सिन्धुं च शोणं मणिनिभोदकम्।।4.40.21।।महीं कालमहीं चैव शैलकाननशोभिताम्।ब्रह्ममालान्विदेहांश्च मालवान्कालिकोसलान्।।4.40.22।।मागधांश्च महाग्रामान्पुण्ड्रांन्वङ्गां स्तथैव च।पत्तनं कोशकाराणां भूमिं च रजताकराम्।।4.40.23।।

Transliteration

māgadhāṃś ca mahāgrāmān puṇḍrān vaṅgāṃs tathaiva ca |

pattanaṃ kośakārāṇāṃ bhūmiṃ ca rajatākarām ||4.40.23||

Translation

માગધ દેશ તથા તેના મહાન ગ્રામોમાં, તેમજ પુણ્ડ્ર અને વંગ પ્રદેશોમાં; અને રેશમકારોના પત્તન (બંદરનગર)માં તથા રજતખાણોથી પ્રસિદ્ધ ભૂમિમાં પણ શોધ કરો॥

Word by Word

• सर्वम्: all
• सर्वम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Neuter, Accusative singular; (object of obligation)

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Neuter, Accusative singular; demonstrative pronoun

• विचेतव्यम्: must be searched/investigated
• विचेतव्यम्: Karya (कार्य/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + चित् (धातु)
• Form: भाव्य/कर्तव्य-प्रत्ययान्त (तव्यत्) कृदन्त; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; gerundive: 'to be searched/investigated'

• मृगयद्भिः: by the searchers
• मृगयद्भिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मृगय् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ) 'मृगयत्' + तृतीया-विभक्ति बहुवचन; Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental plural; 'by those who are searching'

• ततः: from there/thereafter
• ततः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; स्थान/क्रम-वाचक; adverb 'from there/thereafter'

• ततः: in all directions/places
• ततः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; पुनरुक्ति-प्रयोगः 'ततस्ततः' = 'here and there, in every place'

• रामस्य: of Rāma
• रामस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Masculine, Genitive singular

• दयिताम्: beloved
• दयिताम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दयिता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Feminine, Accusative singular; used as adjective to 'भा aryām/सीताम'

• भार्याम्: wife
• भार्याम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भार्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Feminine, Accusative singular

• सीताम्: Sītā
• सीताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सीता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Feminine, Accusative singular; apposition to 'भार्याम्'

• दशरथस्नुषाम्: daughter-in-law of Daśaratha
• दशरथस्नुषाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दशरथस्नुषा (प्रातिपदिक: दशरथ + स्नुषा)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Feminine, Accusative singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (दशरथस्य स्नुषा)

Context

'Look for Sita in the beautiful places on rivers Bhagirathi, Sarayu, Kausiki and Kalindi, on the great mountains adjacent to river Yamuna, banks of rivers Saraswati, Sindhu, Sona with crystalclear waters, the country of Mahim and Kalamahi adorned with mountains and forests. Proceed to Brahmamala, Videha, Malava, Kasi, Kosala and Maghada with great villages, the country of Pundram, Vanga, the country famous for silk worms and the land with silver caves. (It is the eastern direction of river Saravati between Himavat and Vindhya and not east of Kiskinda)

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Magadha
• Vaṅga

FAQs

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

Dharma is impartial diligence: one must search across all social and economic zones—villages, ports, and mining lands—without bias or omission.

What is the narrative situation?

Sugrīva completes a sweep of eastern regions, including populous and commercially notable areas, to prevent gaps in the search.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Thoroughness—an ethical form of care, showing that Sītā’s recovery is pursued with complete seriousness.