Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 56, Shloka 15

षट्पञ्चाशः सर्गः — वैदेही-आश्वासनम् तथा अरिष्टारोहणम्

Consoling Sita and Ascending Mount Arishta

Devanagari script

निश्श्वसन्तमिवामर्षाद्घोरैराशीविषोत्तमैः।नीहारकृतगम्भीरैर्ध्यायन्तमिव गह्वरैः।।।।

Transliteration

niśśvasantam ivāmarṣād ghorair āśīviṣottamaiḥ |

nīhāra-kṛta-gambhīrair dhyāyantam iva gahvaraiḥ ||

Translation

恐ろしくも卓れた毒蛇たちによって、怒りに嘶くかのようにシューッと息づき、霧により厳かさを増した深い洞窟によって、内なる静寂に瞑想しているかのようであった。

Word by Word

• niḥśvasantam: (as if) breathing out / hissing
• niḥśvasantam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: niḥ-√śvas (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (present active participle, शतृ), द्वितीया-एकवचनम्, पुल्लिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग-सम्भव (contextually accusative singular)

• iva: as if
• iva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-अव्यय (particle of comparison)

• amarṣāt: from anger
• amarṣāt: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: amarṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (अपादान), एकवचनम्; 'from anger/indignation'

• ghoraiḥ: with dreadful (ones)
• ghoraiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ghora (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचनम्; विशेषणम्

• āśīviṣa-uttamaiḥ: with the best/most venomous serpents
• āśīviṣa-uttamaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āśīviṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + uttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचनम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष/विशेषण-तत्पुरुष: 'श्रेष्ठाः आशीविषाः'

• nīhāra-kṛta-gambhīraiḥ: with (caves) made deep by mist
• nīhāra-kṛta-gambhīraiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nīhāra (प्रातिपदिक) + kṛta (कृदन्त, क्त) + gambhīra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचनम्; समासः: 'नीहारेण कृतः (यः) गम्भीरः' = mist-made deep/solemn

• dhyāyantam: (as if) meditating
• dhyāyantam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dhyai (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (present active participle), द्वितीया-एकवचनम्

• iva: as if
• iva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-अव्यय

• gahvaraiḥ: with deep caves/chasms
• gahvaraiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gahvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचनम्; 'by/with caves, deep hollows'

Context

The mountain was as though hissing like a dreadful, poisonous snake. With the caves standing majestically covered with mist, the mountain appeared as if it was meditating.

Characters & Entities

• āśīviṣa (venomous serpent)
• parvata (mountain)

FAQs

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

It juxtaposes anger (amarṣa) with meditation (dhyāna), implying the Dharmic ideal of mastering inner impulses and turning toward contemplative restraint rather than harm.

What is the narrative situation?

The narration continues a vivid portrayal of the mountain, blending danger (serpents) and sanctity (meditative caves).

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Self-control (dama): the verse’s tension between ‘hissing’ and ‘meditating’ highlights the moral importance of containing destructive emotion.