Shloka 18

षट्पञ्चाशः सर्गः — वैदेही-आश्वासनम् तथा अरिष्टारोहणम्

Consoling Sita and Ascending Mount Arishta

Devanagari script

लतावितानैर्विततैः पुष्पवद्भिरलङ्कृतम्।नानामृगगणाकीर्णं धातुनिष्यन्दभूषितम्।।।।

Transliteration

latā-vitānaiḥ vitataiḥ puṣpavadbhir alaṅkṛtam |

nānā-mṛga-gaṇākīrṇaṃ dhātu-niṣyanda-bhūṣitam ||

Translation

പുഷ്പഭാരിതമായി വ്യാപിച്ച ലതാവിതാനങ്ങളാൽ അലങ്കരിക്കപ്പെട്ടതായിരുന്നു അത്; നാനാവിധ മൃഗസമൂഹങ്ങളാൽ നിറഞ്ഞതും, പർവ്വതവശങ്ങളിൽ ഒഴുകിയിറങ്ങുന്ന വർണ്ണവർണ്ണമായ ധാതുനിഷ്യന്ദധാരകളാൽ ശോഭിതവുമായിരുന്നു.

Word by Word

• latā-vitānaiḥ: with canopies of creepers
• latā-vitānaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: latā (प्रातिपदिक) + vitāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचनम्; समासः: 'लतानां वितानानि'

• vitataiḥ: spread out
• vitataiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √tan (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त, तृतीया-बहुवचनम्; विशेषणम्

• puṣpavadbhiḥ: flower-laden
• puṣpavadbhiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: puṣpavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचनम्; 'having flowers'

• alaṅkṛtam: decorated
• alaṅkṛtam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: alaṃ-√kṛ (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त, द्वितीया-एकवचनम्; 'adorned'

• nānā-mṛga-gaṇa-ākīrṇam: crowded with various herds of animals
• nānā-mṛga-gaṇa-ākīrṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nānā (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + mṛga (प्रातिपदिक) + gaṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + ākīrṇa (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-एकवचनम्; समासः: 'नानाविधैः मृगगणैः आकीर्णम्'

• dhātu-niṣyanda-bhūṣitam: adorned with mineral-streams/oozings
• dhātu-niṣyanda-bhūṣitam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dhātu (प्रातिपदिक) + niṣyanda (प्रातिपदिक) + bhūṣita (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-एकवचनम्; समासः: 'धातूनां निष्यन्दैः भूषितम्'

Context

It was spread with creepers filled with beautiful flowers and herds of animals. The colourful minerals flowing down decorated the mountain.

Characters & Entities

• latā (creeper)
• puṣpa (flower)
• mṛga (animals)

FAQs

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

Dharma includes honoring life’s flourishing. The verse’s emphasis on flowers, animals, and natural ‘ornaments’ encourages a value of protection and harmony with living beings (dayā).

What is the narrative situation?

The narrator continues to depict the mountain as richly alive—vegetation, wildlife, and mineral colors—enhancing the epic’s setting.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Compassionate regard (dayā) implied by recognizing the mountain as a shared habitat for many beings.