Shloka 31

मायामृगदर्शनम्

The Vision of the Illusory Deer

Devanagari script

धनानि व्यवसायेन विचीयन्ते महावने।धातवो विविधाश्चापि मणिरत्नसुवर्णिनः।।।।

Transliteration

dhanāni vyavasāyena vicīyante mahāvane |

dhātavo vividhāś cāpi maṇiratnasuvarṇinaḥ || 3.43.31 ||

Translation

മഹാവനത്തിൽ സ്ഥിരമായ പരിശ്രമത്തിലൂടെ ധനം സമാഹരിക്കപ്പെടുന്നു; നാനാവിധ ധാതുക്കളും ലഭിക്കുന്നു—മണി-രത്നങ്ങളും സ്വർണ്ണവും ഉൾപ്പെടെ.

Word by Word

• धनानि: wealth; valuables
• धनानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nominative/Accusative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• व्यवसायेन: by effort; through enterprise
• व्यवसायेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यवसाय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचन (Singular)

• विचीयन्ते: are gathered; are collected
• विचीयन्ते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + चि (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद (Ātmanepada), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (Plural)

• महावने: in the great forest
• महावने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महावन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी (Locative), एकवचन (Singular); समासः महत् + वन (विशेषण-विशेष्य)

• धातवः: minerals; ores
• धातवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धातु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• विविधाः: various; diverse
• विविधाः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विविध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural); विशेषणम् (qualifier) धातवः

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• अपि: also; even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्भावन/समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय (particle: also/even)

• मणिरत्नसुवर्णिनः: having gems, jewels, and gold
• मणिरत्नसुवर्णिनः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मणि + रत्न + सुवर्णिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural); समासः मणि-रत्न-सुवर्णिन् = मणिरत्नसुवर्णयुक्ताः/मणिरत्नसुवर्णसम्बद्धाः (having/containing gems and gold)

Context

O Lakshmana! the essence of forest wealth is mineral wealth, which helps the growth of the treasury. It is conceived mentally as in the case of Venus.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa
• great forest (mahāvana)
• minerals/ores (dhātu)
• gems (maṇi/ratna)
• gold (suvarṇa)

FAQs

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

Wealth (artha) should be pursued through rightful effort, not through deception or harm. Dharma frames artha as legitimate when gained responsibly and with self-control.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma broadens the discussion from hunting to the idea that forests contain resources obtained through labor, placing the forest within a larger moral-economic landscape.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Industry and disciplined effort—valuing what is earned through perseverance rather than impulsive acquisition.