Shloka 21

सीतान्वेषणारम्भः

The Search for Sita Begins

Devanagari script

तस्य शैलस्य सानूनि गुहाश्च शिखराणि च।।।।निखिलेन विचिन्वानौ नैव तामभिजग्मतुः।

Transliteration

tasya śailasya sānūni guhāś ca śikharāṇi ca |

nikhilena vicinvānau naiva tām abhijagmatuḥ ||3.61.21||

Translation

その山の斜面も洞窟も峰々も、余すところなく探し尽くしたが、それでも彼らは彼女に辿り着けなかった。

Word by Word

• tasya: of that
• tasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक; सर्वनाम)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• śailasya: of the mountain
• śailasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaila (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• sānūni: slopes/ridges
• sānūni: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sānu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Plural

• guhāḥ: caves
• guhāḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Plural

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• śikharāṇi: peaks
• śikharāṇi: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śikhara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Plural

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• nikhilena: entirely
• nikhilena: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nikhila (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adverbial instrumental

• vicinvānau: searching
• vicinvānau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-√ci (धातु) + śatṛ
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ), Masculine, Nominative, Dual

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध)

• eva: at all/indeed
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (emphasis)

• tām: her
• tām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक; सर्वनाम)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• abhijagmatuḥ: they two found/reached
• abhijagmatuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi-√gam (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person, Dual; parasmaipada

Context

They were not able to find Sita even though they searched all over the mountain slopes, caves and peaks.

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Lakshmana
• Sita
• Mountain
• Caves

FAQs

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

Dharma includes endurance through setbacks: righteous effort may not yield immediate results, yet one must continue without abandoning truth and duty.

What is the narrative situation?

Despite an exhaustive search of the mountain terrain, Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa fail to locate Sītā.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Persistence under adversity—the brothers continue their duty even when results are delayed.