Shloka 8

विन्ध्यगुहाविचयः — Searching the Vindhya Caves and the Cursed Forest

Southern Search

Devanagari script

यत्र वन्ध्यफला वृक्षा विपुष्पाः पर्णवर्जिताः।।।।निस्तोयास्सरितो यत्र मूलं यत्र सुदुर्लभम्।

Transliteration

yatra vandhya-phalā vṛkṣā vipuṣpāḥ parṇa-varjitāḥ |

nistoyāḥ sarito yatra mūlaṃ yatra sudurlabham ||

Translation

彼らが至ったのは、木々が実も花も葉もなく、川は水を失い、根さえ得がたい場所であった。

Word by Word

• yatra: where
• yatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; deśa-adhikaraṇa (relative adverb: where)

• vandhyaphalāḥ: fruitless
• vandhyaphalāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vandhyā + phala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; karmadhāraya: vandhyāni phalāni yeṣām (bearing barren/no fruits)

• vṛkṣāḥ: trees
• vṛkṣāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vṛkṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana

• vipuṣpāḥ: flowerless
• vipuṣpāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi + puṣpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; tatpuruṣa sense: puṣpa-rahitāḥ (without flowers)

• parṇavarjitāḥ: leafless
• parṇavarjitāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parṇa + varjita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; kta-derivative varjita (devoid of) with tatpuruṣa: parṇaiḥ varjitāḥ (without leaves)

• nistoyāḥ: without water
• nistoyāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nis + toya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; viśeṣaṇa of saritaḥ: toya-rahitāḥ (waterless)

• saritaḥ: rivers/streams
• saritaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarit (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana

• yatra: where
• yatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; relative adverb (where)

• mūlam: root (food)/basic sustenance
• mūlam: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mūla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसakaliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; subject in clause (root/water-source)

• yatra: where
• yatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; relative adverb (where)

• sudurlabham: very hard to obtain
• sudurlabham: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Predicate qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su + durlabha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसakaliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; predicate adjective to mūlam

Context

As they marched forward, they entered a location where there were trees devoid of leaves, flowers and fruits and rivers without water and a place where it was difficult to get roots (for food).

Characters & Entities

• Vanaras

FAQs

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

Dharma involves endurance amid scarcity—continuing righteous work even when basic supports (food and water) fail.

What is the narrative situation?

The search party enters an extremely barren tract with little vegetation and no water.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Forbearance (kṣamā) and austerity-like endurance in pursuit of a just goal.