Shloka 10

ऋक्षबिलप्रवेशः

Entry into the Rikshabilam Cave

Devanagari script

ततस्तद्बिलमासाद्य सुगन्धि दुरतिक्रमम्।।।।विस्मयव्यग्रमनसो बभूवुर्वानरर्षभाः।

Transliteration

tatas tad bilam āsādya sugandhi duratikramam |

vismayavyagramanaso babhūvur vānararṣabhāḥ ||

Translation

പിന്നീട് സുഗന്ധം നിറഞ്ഞതെങ്കിലും സമീപിക്കുവാൻ അത്യന്തം ദുഷ്കരമായ ആ ഗുഹയിലെത്തിയപ്പോൾ, വാനരശ്രേഷ്ഠർ അത്ഭുതത്തിൽ വിറച്ചു വ്യാകുലരായി മയങ്ങി നിന്നു.

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; 'बिलम्' इत्यस्य विशेषण

• बिलम्: cave
• बिलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• आसाद्य: having reached
• आसाद्य: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + √सद् (धातु)
• Form: ल्यप्/क्त्वा-समकक्ष अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund); 'having reached/approached'

• सुगन्धि: fragrant
• सुगन्धि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुगन्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; 'बिलम्' इत्यस्य विशेषण

• दुरतिक्रमम्: hard to cross/enter
• दुरतिक्रमम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर् + अतिक्रम (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्ताधारित)
• Form: उपपद-तत्पुरुष (दुर् + अतिक्रम); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; 'बिलम्' इत्यस्य विशेषण

• विस्मय-व्यग्र-मनसः: whose minds were agitated with wonder
• विस्मय-व्यग्र-मनसः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विस्मय (प्रातिपदिक) + व्यग्र (प्रातिपदिक) + मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास (येषां मनांसि विस्मयेन व्यग्राणि ते); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; 'वानरर्षभाः' इत्यस्य विशेषण

• बभूवुः: became
• बभूवुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद; प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन

• वानर-ऋषभाः: bulls among monkeys (chief monkeys)
• वानर-ऋषभाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वानर (प्रातिपदिक) + ऋषभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (वानराणाम् ऋषभाः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

Context

The bulls among the monkeys were bewildered when they reached the cave which was difficult to access.

Characters & Entities

• Cave (bila)

FAQs

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

Dharma includes prudent discernment: even strong beings pause when confronted with the unknown, weighing risk before action rather than rushing blindly.

What is the narrative situation?

The search-party encounters an unusual cave—pleasantly fragrant but perilous to access—causing hesitation and astonishment.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Cautious intelligence (viveka): recognizing danger signs and responding thoughtfully.