Shloka 16

समुद्रलङ्घनारम्भः

Commencement of the Ocean-Crossing

Devanagari script

मुमोच च शिलाः शैलो विशालाः समनःशिलाः।मध्यमेनार्चिषा जुष्टा धूमराजीरिवानलः।।।।

Transliteration

mumo ca ca śilāḥ śailo viśālāḥ samanaḥśilāḥ | madhyamenārciṣā juṣṭā dhūmarājīr ivānalaḥ ||

Translation

പർവ്വതം ഖനിജവർണ്ണരേഖകളാൽ ചായം പിടിച്ച വൻ പാറകൾ പുറന്തള്ളി; അതിന്റെ മദ്ധ്യത്തിൽ അത് അഗ്നിപോലെ ജ്വലിച്ചു, പുകരേഖകൾ ഉയർത്തുന്ന തീപോലെ.

Word by Word

• मुमोच: released/threw out
• मुमोच: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मुच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय

• शिलाः: rocks/boulders
• शिलाः: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• शैलः: the mountain
• शैलः: कर्तृ (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शैल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• विशालाः: huge
• विशालाः: कर्म (Karma; qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विशाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; शिलाः इति विशेषणम्

• समनःशिलाः: rocks with sulphur/mineral pigment
• समनःशिलाः: कर्म (Karma; qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समनः + शिला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमासः (rocks with 'samanaḥ'—sulphur/arsenic-like mineral); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; शिलाः इति विशेषणम्

• मध्यमेन: in the middle/with the middle part
• मध्यमेन: अधिकरण/करण (Locative-instrumental sense)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मध्यम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; देश/अवयववाचक (in the middle)

• अर्चिषा: with flame
• अर्चिषा: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्चिस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• जुष्टा: accompanied/filled (with)
• जुष्टा: कर्म (Karma; qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जुष् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle) 'attended/possessed'; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; शिलाः इति विशेषणम्

• धूमराजीः: a streak/column of smoke
• धूमराजीः: उपमान (Standard of comparison)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धूम + राजी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमासः (streak/column of smoke); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• इव: like
• इव: उपमान (Comparison marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमानवाचक अव्यय

• अनलः: fire
• अनलः: उपमेय (Thing compared)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Context

The mountain threw down big boulders along with sulphur just like fire emits columns of smoke, surrounded by flames.

Characters & Entities

• Mountain (śaila)

FAQs

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

Indirectly, it underscores perseverance: even when nature appears violent or obstructive, the righteous journey continues with steadiness.

What is the narrative situation?

A descriptive passage portraying a mountain’s fierce activity—rocks and flame—serving as heightened scene-setting amid peril.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Endurance (implied for the traveler/hero): confronting daunting forces without abandoning purpose.