Shloka 49

पश्चिमदिशि अन्वेषणादेशः

Instructions for the Western Search Party

Devanagari script

प्रष्टव्यो मेरुसावर्णिर्महर्षिः सूर्यसन्निभः।प्रणम्य शिरसा भूमौ प्रवृत्तिं मैथिलीं प्रति।।4.42.49।।

Transliteration

praṣṭavyo merusāvarṇir maharṣiḥ sūrya-sannibhaḥ | praṇamya śirasā bhūmau pravṛttiṃ maithilīṃ prati || 4.42.49 ||

Translation

സൂര്യസന്നിഭനായ ആ മഹർഷി മേരു‌സാവർണിയോട്—ഭൂമിയിൽ ശിരസ്സു വെച്ച് പ്രണമിച്ച്—മൈഥിലി (സീത)യെ സംബന്ധിച്ച വാർത്ത/വൃത്താന്തം ചോദിക്കണം.

Word by Word

• praṣṭavyaḥ: should be asked
• praṣṭavyaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: prach (धातु) + -tavya (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: Gerundive/obligative (तव्यत्-कृदन्त), Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); “is to be asked”

• merusāvarṇiḥ: Merusavarni
• merusāvarṇiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: meru-sāvarṇi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रthama), Singular (एकवचन)

• maharṣiḥ: great sage
• maharṣiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maharṣi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); karmadhāraya: mahān ṛṣiḥ

• sūrya-sannibhaḥ: sun-like, radiant
• sūrya-sannibhaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sūrya + sannibha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); उपमान-तत्पुरुष: sūrya-iva sannibhaḥ

• praṇamya: having bowed
• praṇamya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-ṇam (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/gerund (क्त्वा/ल्यप्), “having bowed”

• śirasā: with (one's) head
• śirasā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiras (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• bhūmau: on the ground
• bhūmau: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhūmi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• pravṛttim: information/news
• pravṛttim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pravṛtti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• maithilīm: Maithili (Sita)
• maithilīm: Viṣaya (विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maithilī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• prati: regarding/towards
• prati: Viṣaya (विषय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: prati (अव्यय)
• Form: Preposition/postposition (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) meaning “towards/with regard to”

Context

'Bow down, touch the feet of the seer Merusavarna, who glows like the Sun and then enquire from him about Sita.

Characters & Entities

• Merusāvarṇi
• Maithilī (Sītā)

FAQs

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

Dharma here is reverence and humility: one should approach the wise respectfully to obtain truthful guidance (satya) for a righteous mission.

What is the narrative situation?

Sugrīva instructs the western party to seek Sītā-related information by consulting the sage Merusāvarṇi with proper reverence.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Vinaya (humility) and śraddhā (respectful trust) in approaching spiritual authorities.