Shloka 17

विन्ध्यगुहाविचयः — Searching the Vindhya Caves and the Cursed Forest

Southern Search

Devanagari script

ते प्रविश्याऽशु तं भीमं लतागुल्मसमावृतम्।दद्दृशुः क्रूरकर्माणमसुरं सुरनिर्भयम्।।।।

Transliteration

te praviśyāśu taṃ bhīmaṃ latāgulmasamāvṛtam |

daddṛśuḥ krūrakarmāṇam asuraṃ suranirbhayam ||

Translation

വള്ളികളും കുറ്റിച്ചെടികളും മൂടിയ ആ ഭയങ്കരസ്ഥാനത്തിലേക്ക് അവർ ഉടൻ കടന്നു; അവിടെ ക്രൂരകർമ്മനായ, ദേവന്മാരെയും ഭയപ്പെടാത്ത ഒരു അസുരനെ അവർ കണ്ടു.

Word by Word

• ते: they
• ते: कर्ता (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• प्रविश्य: having entered
• प्रविश्य: क्रियाविशेषण (पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-विश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having entered)

• आशु: quickly
• आशु: क्रियाविशेषण
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आशु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: quickly)

• तम्: him
• तम्: कर्म (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• भीमम्: terrible
• भीमम्: विशेषण (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भीम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण of तम्

• लता-गुल्म-समावृतम्: covered with creepers and bushes
• लता-गुल्म-समावृतम्: विशेषण (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लता (प्रातिपदिक) + गुल्म (प्रातिपदिक) + सम्-आ-वृत (धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण of तम्; समासः—तत्पुरुष (लतागुल्मैः समावृतम्)

• ददृशुः: they saw
• ददृशुः: क्रिया (मुख्यक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन

• क्रूर-कर्माणम्: of cruel deeds
• क्रूर-कर्माणम्: विशेषण (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्रूर (प्रातिपदिक) + कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि (क्रूराणि कर्माणि यस्य सः)

• असुरम्: a demon
• असुरम्: कर्म (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सुर-निर्भयम्: unafraid of the gods
• सुर-निर्भयम्: विशेषण (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुर (प्रातिपदिक) + निर्भय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण of असुरम्/तम्; समासः—तत्पुरुष (सुरेभ्यः निर्भयः)

Context

The monkeys beheld the dreadful demon standing firmly like a huge, incomparable mountain in front of them.

Characters & Entities

• vānarāḥ (monkeys)
• asura (demon)
• sura (gods, as a class)

FAQs

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

Dharma is discernment and courage: recognizing adharma (cruelty, godless arrogance) and not shrinking from confronting it while pursuing one’s rightful task.

What is the narrative situation?

The Vānara party enters an overgrown, fearsome area and encounters a powerful demon described as violently immoral and arrogant.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Bravery in the face of threatening forces that embody cruelty and lawlessness.