Shloka 15

दक्षिणदिशि सीतान्वेषण-आदेशः

Commissioning the Southern Search for Sītā

Devanagari script

ततस्तामापगां दिव्यां प्रसन्नसलिलां शिवाम्।तत्र द्रक्ष्यथ कावेरीं विहितामप्सरोगणैः।।।।

Transliteration

tatas tām āpagāṃ divyāṃ prasannasalilāṃ śivām |

tatra drakṣyatha kāverīṃ vihitām apsarogaṇaiḥ ||

Translation

അതിനുശേഷം നിങ്ങൾ ദിവ്യവും പ്രസന്നജലവുമുള്ള, ശിവകരമായ ആ നദിയായ കാവേരിയെ കാണും; അവിടെ അപ്സരാഗണങ്ങൾ വിഹരിക്കുന്നതായി പ്രസിദ്ധമാണ്.

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable adverb): क्रम/अनन्तरार्थे (then/thereafter)

• tām: that (her/it)
• tām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• āpagām: river/stream
• āpagām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āpagā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• divyām: divine, splendid
• divyām: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: divya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying āpagām)

• prasanna-salilām: having clear/pure waters
• prasanna-salilām: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prasanna (प्रातिपदिक) + salila (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी/कर्मधारय-प्रायः तत्पुरुषः (prasannaṃ salilaṃ yasyāḥ / prasanna-salilā) विशेषण

• śivām: auspicious, sacred
• śivām: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• tatra: there
• tatra: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable adverb): देशार्थे (there)

• drakṣyatha: you (pl.) will see
• drakṣyatha: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), मध्यम-पुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• kāverīm: the Kaveri (river)
• kāverīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāverī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; नदी-नाम (proper noun)

• vihitām: arranged/ordained, made
• vihitām: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi-dhā (धातु) + kta (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (kāverīm)

• apsarogaṇaiḥ: by groups of apsarases
• apsarogaṇaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: apsaras (प्रातिपदिक) + gaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (apsarasāṃ gaṇaiḥ = groups of apsarases)

Context

'Look for Sita all over mount Ayomukha (known as Malaya), rich in ores. It has wonderful peaks. It looks colourful with the forest in bloom. This great mountain is full of sandalwood forest.

Characters & Entities

• Apsarases (apsarogaṇa)

FAQs

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

Dharma includes reverence for sacred places: the journey is not mere travel but a disciplined mission conducted through holy landscapes with purity of intent.

What is the narrative situation?

Sugrīva continues the southern itinerary, pointing out the Kāverī as a significant river they will encounter.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Respectfulness—moving through revered regions without losing focus on duty.