Shloka 22

ऋक्षबिलप्रवेशः

Entry into the Rikshabilam Cave

Devanagari script

ते नष्टसंज्ञास्तृषितास्सम्भ्रान्तास्सलिलार्थिनः।।।।परिपेतुर्बिले तस्मिन्कञ्चित्कालमतन्द्रिताः।

Transliteration

te naṣṭasaṁjñās tṛṣitāḥ sambhrāntāḥ salilārthinaḥ |

paripetur bile tasmin kañcit kālam atandritāḥ ||

Translation

ദാഹത്താൽ വ്യാകുലരായി, ആശയക്കുഴപ്പത്തിലായി, പ്രായം ബോധം മങ്ങുന്നവരായി—ജലത്തിനായി അത്യന്തം ആകാംക്ഷയോടെ—അവർ അലസതയില്ലാതെ ആ ഗുഹയിൽ കുറേ സമയം അലഞ്ഞുതിരിഞ്ഞു.

Word by Word

• te: they
• te: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (तद् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा बहुवचन

• naṣṭa-saṃjñāḥ: nearly unconscious
• naṣṭa-saṃjñāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: naṣṭa (नष्ट, √naś ‘to perish’ क्त) + saṃjñā (संज्ञा)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (‘whose consciousness is lost’); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा बहुवचन

• tṛṣitāḥ: thirsty
• tṛṣitāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tṛṣita (तृषित प्रातिपदिक, from √tṛṣ ‘to thirst’)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा बहुवचन

• sambhrāntāḥ: bewildered
• sambhrāntāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sam-bhram (भ्रम् धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्यय (past participle); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा बहुवचन

• salila-arthinaḥ: seeking water
• salila-arthinaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: salila (सलिल) + arthin (अर्थिन्)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (‘seeking water’); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा बहुवचन

• paripetuḥ: wandered about
• paripetuḥ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pari-pat (पत् धातु ‘to go about, wander’)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्षभूत); परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष; बहुवचन

• bile: in the cave
• bile: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bila (बिल प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी एकवचन

• tasmin: in that
• tasmin: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/location)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (तद् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी एकवचन (agreeing with bile)

• kañcit: some
• kañcit: Karma (कर्म/extent)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kañcit (कञ्चित् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक; द्वितीया एकवचन (agreeing with kālam)

• kālam: time, while
• kālam: Karma (कर्म/extent of time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāla (काल प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचन; adverbial-accusative ‘for a time’

• atandritāḥ: untiring, without slackness
• atandritāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a- (नञ्) + tandrita (तन्द्रित प्रातिपदिक, from √tandr ‘to be sluggish’)
• Form: नञ्-समास/निषेध; पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा बहुवचन

Context

Having nearly lost their senses (without water to drink), the thirsty and bewildered monkeys were desperate for water.They wandered in the cave without feeling lazy for some time.

Characters & Entities

• salila (water)

FAQs

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

Dharma is non-abandonment of duty under hardship: even physical extremity (thirst, confusion) does not justify negligence in a righteous task.

What is the narrative situation?

The vānaras, suffering from thirst and disorientation, continue searching within the cave, hoping to find water or a way forward.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Atandratā (untiring vigilance)—the refusal to become lax even when exhausted.