Shloka 24

पश्चिमदिशि अन्वेषणादेशः

Instructions for the Western Search Party

Devanagari script

तत्र यत्नश्च कर्तव्यो मार्गितव्या च जानकी।न हि तेभ्यो भयं किञ्चित्कपित्वमनुवर्तताम्।।4.42.24।।

Transliteration

tatra yatnaś ca kartavyo mārgitavyā ca jānakī |

na hi tebhyo bhayaṃ kiñcit kapitvam anuvartatām ||

Translation

അവിടെ പരിശ്രമം ചെയ്യുകയും ജാനകിയെ അന്വേഷിക്കുന്നത് തുടർന്നുകൊണ്ടിരിക്കയും വേണം; വാനരധർമ്മം അനുസരിച്ച് പെരുമാറുന്നിടത്തോളം അവരിൽ നിന്ന് ഭയം ഒന്നുമില്ല.

Word by Word

• tatra: there
• tatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (देशवाचक अव्यय)

• vaiḍhūryavarṇābhaḥ: having the color-luster of vaidūrya
• vaiḍhūryavarṇābhaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vaiḍhūrya (प्रातिपदिक) + varṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + ābha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) compound: vaiḍhūrya-varṇa-ābha (‘having the hue of vaidūrya gem’); Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• vajrasaṃsthānasaṃsthitaḥ: formed like a diamond
• vajrasaṃsthānasaṃsthitaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vajra (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃsthāna (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃsthita (कृदन्त; sam-√sthā स्था)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) compound: vajra-saṃsthāna-saṃsthita (‘set/formed in diamond-like shape/structure’); Past participle (क्त/कृदन्त), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• nānādrumalatākīrṇaḥ: covered with various trees and vines
• nānādrumalatākīrṇaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nānā (अव्ययवत्/प्रातिपदिक) + druma (प्रातिपदिक) + latā (प्रातिपदिक) + kīrṇa (कृदन्त; √kṝ/√kīr?; ‘strewn/filled’)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) compound: nānā-druma-latā-kīrṇa (‘filled with various trees and creepers’); Past participle (क्त/कृदन्त), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• vajraḥ: Vajra
• vajraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vajra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• nāma: named
• nāma: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nāma (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle/indeclinable used in naming (नाम-निपात)

• mahāgiriḥ: great mountain
• mahāgiriḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + giri (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya (कर्मधारय) compound: mahā-giri; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• śrīmān: splendid
• śrīmān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śrīmat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• samuditaḥ: extended/risen
• samuditaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: samudita (कृदन्त; sam-ud-√i/√dā?; ‘risen/extended’)
• Form: Past participle (क्त/कृदन्त), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• tatra: there
• tatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (देशवाचक अव्यय)

• yojanānām: of yojanas
• yojanānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yojana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग) or Masculine (usage varies), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Plural (बहुवचन)

• śatam: a hundred
• śatam: Karma (कर्म/द्वितीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• samam: equal/complete
• samam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन); adverbial ‘equally/fully’ or agreeing with śatam

• guhāḥ: caves
• guhāḥ: Karma (कर्म/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन)

• tatra: there
• tatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (देशवाचक अव्यय)

• vicetavyāḥ: must be searched/examined
• vicetavyāḥ: Vidhi (विधि/आदेश)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi + √cit (चित्)
• Form: Gerundive/obligative (तव्यत्-प्रत्यय/कृदन्त), Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन); agreeing with guhāḥ

• prayatnena: with effort
• prayatnena: Karaṇa (करण/तृतीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prayatna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Singular (एकवचन)

• plavaṅgamāḥ: O monkeys
• plavaṅgamāḥ: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: plavaṅgama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (सम्बोधन), Plural (बहुवचन)

Context

'Exert yourself in your search for Janaki. Indeed there will be no fear from them, if you behave like normal monkeys in a natural way.

Characters & Entities

• Jānakī (Sītā)
• Gandharvas
• Vānaras

FAQs

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

Dharma is mission-centered conduct: pursue the righteous goal (finding Sītā) while maintaining appropriate behavior and avoiding provocation.

What is the narrative situation?

Sugriva reassures the party that they can search safely if they do not act aggressively or unnaturally in the Gandharva region.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Focused diligence—effort directed toward duty rather than distraction or conflict.