Shloka 8

दक्षिणदिशि सीतान्वेषण-आदेशः

Commissioning the Southern Search for Sītā

Devanagari script

सहस्रशिरसं विन्ध्यं नानाद्रुमलतायुतम्।नर्मदां च नदीं रम्यां महोरगनिषेविताम्।।।।ततो गोदावरीं रम्यां कृष्णवेणीं महानदीम्।वरदां च महाभागां महोरगनिषेविताम्।।।।मेखलामुत्कलां चैव दशार्णनगराण्यपि।आश्ववन्तीमवन्तीं च सर्वामेवानुपश्यत।।।।

Transliteration

sahasra-śirasaṃ vindhyaṃ nānā-druma-latā-yutam | narmadāṃ ca nadīṃ ramyāṃ mahā-uraga-niṣevitām ||

Translation

सहस्र शिखरांनी युक्त, नानाविध वृक्ष-लतांनी भरलेला विन्ध्य पर्वत शोधा; तसेच महोरगांनी वसलेली रम्य नर्मदा नदीही पाहा।

Word by Word

• सहस्रशिरसम्: having a thousand peaks
• सहस्रशिरसम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sahasra + śiras (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Bahuvrīhi (बहुव्रीहि) ‘having thousand peaks/heads’; Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); adjective qualifying विन्ध्यम्

• विन्ध्यम्: the Vindhya (mountain)
• विन्ध्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vindhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• नानाद्रुमलतायुतम्: filled with various trees and creepers
• नानाद्रुमलतायुतम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nānā + druma + latā + yuta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) (instrumental/associative sense) ‘endowed with various trees and creepers’; Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); adjective qualifying विन्ध्यम्

• नर्मदाम्: Narmadā (river)
• नर्मदाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: narmadā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction/particle (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• नदीम्: river
• नदीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nadī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); in apposition to नर्मदाम्

• रम्याम्: lovely
• रम्याम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ramya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); adjective qualifying नदीम्/नर्मदाम्

• महोरगनिषेविताम्: frequented by great serpents
• महोरगनिषेविताम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā + uraga + niṣevita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) ‘frequented by great serpents’; Past passive participle (कृत, क्त) from ni-√sev; Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); adjective qualifying नदीम्

• ततः: then
• ततः: Kāla/Anantarya (काल/अनन्तर्य)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण अव्यय)

• गोदावरीम्: Godāvarī (river)
• गोदावरीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: godāvarī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• रम्याम्: lovely
• रम्याम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ramya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); adjective qualifying गोदावरीम्

• कृष्णवेणीम्: Kṛṣṇaveṇī (river)
• कृष्णवेणीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṛṣṇa + veṇī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya (कर्मधारय) proper name ‘the dark-braided (river)’; Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• महानदीम्: Mahānadī (river)
• महानदीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā + nadī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya (कर्मधारय) proper name ‘great river’; Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• वरदाम्: Varadā (river)
• वरदाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: varadā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction/particle (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• महाभागाम्: Mahābhāgā (river)
• महाभागाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā + bhāgā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya (कर्मधारय) proper name ‘Mahābhāgā’; Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• महोरगनिषेविताम्: frequented by great serpents
• महोरगनिषेविताम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā + uraga + niṣevita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) ‘frequented by great serpents’; PPP (क्त) from ni-√sev; Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); adjective qualifying वरदाम्/महाभागाम्

• मेखलाम्: Mēkhalā (river/region)
• मेखलाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mēkhalā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• उत्कलाम्: Utkalā (region)
• उत्कलाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: utkalā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction/particle (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• एव: indeed/also
• एव: Avadhāraṇa (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (निश्चय/अवधारण अव्यय)

• दशार्णनगराणि: the towns of Daśārṇa
• दशार्णनगराणि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daśārṇa + nagara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) ‘towns of Daśārṇa’; Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• अपि: also/even
• अपि: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (सम्भावना/समुच्चय अव्यय)

• आश्ववन्तीम्: Āśvavantī (region/city)
• आश्ववन्तीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āśvavantī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• अवन्तीम्: Avantī (region/city)
• अवन्तीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: avantī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction/particle (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• सर्वाम्: all/entire
• सर्वाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); used collectively ‘the whole (region/route)’

• एव: indeed
• एव: Avadhāraṇa (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (अवधारण अव्यय)

• अनुपश्यत: you all should observe/survey
• अनुपश्यत: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: anu-√paś (धातु)
• Form: Loṭ-lakāra (लोट्, imperative), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 2nd person (मध्यमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन)

Context

'Search for Sita all over Vindhya of a thousand peaks filled with several trees and creepers, and along the river Narmada. Then proceed to Godavari, lovely Krishnaveni, Mahanadi, Varada and Mahabhaga inhabited by terrific serpents.You may search Mekhala, Utkala and Dasarna cities, Asvavanti and Avanti countries also.

Characters & Entities

• Vindhya
• Narmadā

FAQs

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

Dharma is steadfast pursuit of a righteous goal despite danger: the mission requires entering difficult, fearsome terrains without abandoning duty.

What is the narrative situation?

Sugrīva begins listing the southern route and notable regions where the monkeys should search for traces of Sītā.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Perseverance and courage in undertaking hazardous travel for a just cause.