Shloka 36

पम्पा-ऋष्यमूक-मार्गोपदेशः

Guidance to Pampa and Rishyamuka; counsel to befriend Sugriva

Devanagari script

सिक्ता रुधिरधाराभिस्संहृत्य परमद्विपाः।प्रचरन्ति पृथक्कीर्णा मेघवर्णास्तरस्विनः।।3.73.36।।

Transliteration

siktā rudhiradhārābhiḥ saṅhṛtya paramadvipāḥ | pracaranti pṛthakkīrṇā meghavarṇās tarasvinaḥ ||

Translation

മദധാരകളാൽ നനഞ്ഞ അതിബലവാനായ ആനകൾ ഒന്നിച്ചു ചേരുകയും, പിന്നെ മേഘവർണ്ണവും അതിവേഗവുമുള്ളവരായി വേർപിരിഞ്ഞ് ചിതറിപ്പോയി സഞ്ചരിക്കുകയും ചെയ്യുന്നു.

Word by Word

• siktāḥ: drenched
• siktāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √sic (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle): ‘sprinkled/drenched’; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; qualifies ‘paramadvipāḥ’

• rudhira-dhārābhiḥ: with streams of blood/ichor
• rudhira-dhārābhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण/instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rudhira (प्रातिपदिक) + dhārā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष: rudhirasya dhārāḥ; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), बहुवचन

• saṃhṛtya: having drawn together
• saṃhṛtya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: saṃ√hṛ (धातु) + ल्यप् (absolutive)
• Form: क्त्वान्त/ल्यपन्त अव्ययकृदन्त: ‘having drawn together/contracted’

• parama-dvipāḥ: great elephants
• parama-dvipāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक) + dvipa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय: paramaḥ dvipaḥ; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• pracaranti: wander/move about
• pracaranti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra√car (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• pṛthak: separately
• pṛthak: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: pṛthak (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb): ‘separately’

• kīrṇāḥ: scattered
• kīrṇāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √kṝ (धातु; kīrṇa)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle): ‘scattered’; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; qualifies ‘paramadvipāḥ’

• megha-varṇāḥ: cloud-colored
• megha-varṇāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: megha (प्रातिपदिक) + varṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष: meghasya varṇaḥ iva; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; qualifies ‘paramadvipāḥ’

• tarasvinaḥ: swift/impetuous
• tarasvinaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tarasvin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; qualifies ‘paramadvipāḥ’

Context

The great, nimble elphants, dark like clouds, drenched with the flow of ichor come together and then separate and scatter.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• elephants (dvipa/nāga)

FAQs

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

Dharma includes awareness of the living world: strength and vitality in nature are acknowledged without aggression, encouraging respectful coexistence.

What is the narrative situation?

The speaker continues describing the region near Pampā/Mataṅga’s forest, focusing on the behavior and appearance of the elephants there.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Prudence—recognizing powerful beings and moving wisely within their habitat while maintaining one’s righteous purpose.