Shloka 8

ऋक्षबिलप्रवेशः

Entry into the Rikshabilam Cave

Devanagari script

क्षुत्पिपासापरीताश्च श्रान्ताश्च सलिलार्थिनः।।।।अवकीर्णं लतावृक्षैर्ददृशुस्ते महाबिलम्।

Transliteration

kṣut-pipāsā-parītāś ca śrāntāś ca salilārthinaḥ | avakīrṇaṃ latā-vṛkṣair dadṛśus te mahābilam ||

Translation

ക്ഷുധയും ദാഹവും കൊണ്ട് പീഡിതരായി, ക്ഷീണിതരായി, ജലം തേടിക്കൊണ്ടിരുന്ന അവർ ലതകളും വൃക്ഷങ്ങളും മൂടിപ്പടർന്ന, വള്ളികളാൽ നിറഞ്ഞ ഒരു മഹാഗുഹ കണ്ടു.

Word by Word

• क्षुत्-पिपासा-परिताः: overcome by hunger and thirst
• क्षुत्-पिपासा-परिताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षुत् (प्रातिपदिक) + पिपासा (प्रातिपदिक) + परित (कृदन्त, परि + √इ (धातु) / √ता?; रूढप्रयोगः 'परित/परित' = 'surrounded/overcome')
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास (क्षुत् + पिपासा) ततः 'परित' इति कृदन्तेन विशेषितम्; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; 'ते' इत्यस्य विशेषण

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• श्रान्ताः: tired
• श्रान्ताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रान्त (कृदन्त, √श्रम् (धातु))
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; 'ते' इत्यस्य विशेषण

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• सलिल-अर्थिनः: seeking water
• सलिल-अर्थिनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सलिल (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: चतुर्थी/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषभावः (सलिलम् अर्थयते इति); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; 'ते' इत्यस्य विशेषण

• अवकीर्णम्: strewn/covered
• अवकीर्णम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अव + √कॄ (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; 'महाबिलम्' इत्यस्य विशेषण

• लता-वृक्षैः: with creepers and trees
• लता-वृक्षैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लता (प्रातिपदिक) + वृक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), बहुवचन

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

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

• महा-बिलम्: a great/huge cave
• महा-बिलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + बिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन

Context

She was an ascetic in bark robes and deer skin blazing with lustre, restrained in her food. The monkeys got very frightened.

Characters & Entities

• vānaras (search party)

FAQs

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

Dharma includes endurance under hardship: even when bodily needs press (hunger, thirst), the party continues the righteous task rather than abandoning it.

What is the narrative situation?

The southern searchers, desperate for water, come upon a massive cave thick with vegetation.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Fortitude—persisting in duty despite physical exhaustion.