Shloka 9

विन्ध्यगुहाविचयः — Searching the Vindhya Caves and the Cursed Forest

Southern Search

Devanagari script

न सन्ति महिषा यत्र न मृगा न च हस्तिनः।।।।शार्दूलाः पक्षिणो वापि ये चान्ये वनगोचराः।

Transliteration

na santi mahiṣā yatra na mṛgā na ca hastinaḥ |

śārdūlāḥ pakṣiṇo vāpi ye cānye vanagocarāḥ ||

Translation

ସେଠାରେ ନ ମହିଷ ଥିଲେ, ନ ମୃଗ, ନ ହସ୍ତୀ; ନ ଶାର୍ଦ୍ଦୂଲ, ନ ପକ୍ଷୀ, ଓ ଅନ୍ୟ କୌଣସି ବନଗୋଚର ପ୍ରାଣୀ ମଧ୍ୟ ନଥିଲେ।

Word by Word

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; negation

• santi: are/exist
• santi: Kriyā (क्रिया/Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √as (अस् धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (Present), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Bahuvacana, Parasmaipada

• mahiṣāḥ: buffaloes
• mahiṣāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahiṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana

• yatra: where
• yatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; relative adverb (where)

• na: nor
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; negation

• mṛgāḥ: deer/animals
• mṛgāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mṛga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana

• na: nor
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; negation

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; conjunction (in correlative negation: na...na ca)

• hastinaḥ: elephants
• hastinaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hastin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana

• śārdūlāḥ: tigers
• śārdūlāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śārdūla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana

• pakṣiṇaḥ: birds
• pakṣiṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pakṣin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana

• vā: or/even
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; vikalpa (or/even)

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; emphasis/addition

• ye: those who
• ye: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; relative pronoun

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; conjunction

• anye: other
• anye: Karta (कर्ता/Subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; viśeṣaṇa of vanagocarāḥ

• vanagocarāḥ: forest-dwellers
• vanagocarāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vana + gocara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; tatpuruṣa: vane gocarāḥ (moving in the forest)

Context

There were no buffaloes, no deer, no elephants, tigers or even birds and other wild animals.

Characters & Entities

• Vanaras
• Shardula

FAQs

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

Dharma is unwavering commitment: even when signs of life and support vanish, one does not abandon a righteous responsibility.

What is the narrative situation?

The Vānaras observe that the terrain is so lifeless that even animals and birds are absent.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Steadfastness—continuing the quest despite discouraging surroundings.