Shloka 12

प्रस्रवणगिरिवासवर्णनम्

Residence on Mount Prasravana; Counsel during the Rains

Devanagari script

प्रागुदक्प्रवणे देशे गुहा साधु भविष्यति।पश्चाच्चैवोन्नता सौम्य निवातेयं भविष्यति4.27.12।।

Transliteration

prāg-udak-pravaṇe deśe guhā sādhu bhaviṣyati | paścāc caivonnatā saumya nivātā iyaṃ bhaviṣyati ||

Translation

அன்பரே! கிழக்கும் வடக்கும் சாய்வுடைய நிலத்தில் இக்குகை நன்றாக அமைந்திருக்கும்; மேற்குப் புறம் உயர்ந்திருப்பதால் இவ்விடம் பலத்த காற்றிலிருந்து காக்கப்பட்டு, காற்றடங்கியதாக இருக்கும்.

Word by Word

• दक्षिणस्याम्: in the southern
• दक्षिणस्याम्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दक्षिण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; adjective used substantively with दिशि: ‘in the southern’

• अपि: also
• अपि: Nipāta (निपात/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; particle ‘also/even’

• दिशि: direction
• दिशि: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिश् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; locative ‘in the direction’

• स्थितम्: situated
• स्थितम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्थित (कृदन्त; √स्था (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘situated/standing’ (predicate adjective)

• श्वेतम्: white
• श्वेतम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्वेत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘white’ qualifying (implied) शिखरम्/गिरिशृङ्गम्

• इव: like
• इव: Upamā-dyotaka (उपमाद्योतक/Comparative marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; ‘like’

• अपरम्: another
• अपरम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अपर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘another’ (as if another [peak])

• कैलासशिखरप्रख्यम्: like the peak of Kailāsa
• कैलासशिखरप्रख्यम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कैलास (प्रातिपदिक) + शिखर (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: कैलासस्य शिखरवत् प्रख्यम् = resembling Kailāsa’s peak

• नानाधातुविभूषितम्: adorned with various minerals
• नानाधातुविभूषितम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नाना (अव्यय) + धातु (प्रातिपदिक) + विभूषित (कृदन्त; √भूष् (धातु) + क्त, with वि)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: नानाधातुभिः विभूषितम् = adorned with various minerals

Context

'O good-natured Lakshmana! the descending path on the north-eastern side of the cave and elevation on the the west is auspicious.This place is protected from rain water and from strong wind.

Characters & Entities

• guhā (cave)
• directions (east, north, west)

FAQs

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

Dharma is sustained by foresight: arranging a safe, suitable residence enables one to maintain vows and duties without unnecessary hardship.

What is the narrative situation?

Lakṣmaṇa evaluates the terrain around the cave, noting auspicious and practical features (slope, elevation, wind-shelter).

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Careful stewardship—protecting the conditions needed for righteous perseverance.