Shloka 16

प्रस्रवणगिरिवासवर्णनम्

Residence on Mount Prasravana; Counsel during the Rains

Devanagari script

प्राचीनवाहिनीं चैव नदीं भृशमकर्दमाम्।गुहायाः पूर्वतः पश्य त्रिकूटे जाह्नवीमिव4.27.16।।चन्दनैस्तिलकैस्तालैस्तमालैरतिमुक्तकैः।पद्मकैः सरलैश्चैव अशोकैश्चैव शोभिताम्4.27.17।।

Transliteration

prācīna-vāhinīṃ caiva nadīṃ bhṛśam akardamām |

guhāyāḥ pūrvataḥ paśya trikūṭe jāhnavīm iva || 4.27.16 ||

candanaiḥ tilakaiḥ tālaiḥ tamālair atimuktakaiḥ |

padmakaiḥ saralaiś caiva aśokaiś caiva śobhitām || 4.27.17 ||

Translation

గుహకు తూర్పున ఈ ప్రాచీనవాహిని నది త్రికూటంపై ప్రవహించే జాహ్నవిలా అత్యంత నిర్మలంగా, కర్దమరహితంగా దర్శనమిస్తుంది. చందన, తిలకవృక్షాలు, తాళ, తమాల, అతిముక్తక లతలు, పద్మక, సరళ, అశోక వృక్షాలతో ఆమె సర్వతోభద్రంగా శోభిల్లుతోంది।

Word by Word

• prācīna-vāhinīm: east-flowing
• prācīna-vāhinīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prācīna (प्रातिपदिक) + vāhinī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (f.), Dvitīyā-vibhakti (Acc. 2), Ekavacana; karmadhāraya-samāsa; qualifies nadīm

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya-nipāta (conjunction)

• eva: indeed
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Avadhāraṇa-nipāta (particle of emphasis)

• nadīm: river
• nadīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nadī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (f.), Dvitīyā-vibhakti (Acc. 2), Ekavacana

• bhṛśam: greatly
• bhṛśam: Sambandha (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: bhṛśam (अव्यय)
• Form: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa-avyaya (adverb)

• akardamām: mudless, clear
• akardamām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-kardama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (f.), Dvitīyā-vibhakti (Acc. 2), Ekavacana; nañ-tatpuruṣa sense (a- = negation); qualifies nadīm

• guhāyāḥ: from the cave
• guhāyāḥ: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (f.), Pañcamī-vibhakti (Abl. 5), Ekavacana

• pūrvataḥ: to the east / in front
• pūrvataḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: pūrva (प्रातिपदिक) + tas (तस्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: Deśa-avyaya (directional adverb): 'to the east/in front'

• paśya: see
• paśya: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: Loṭ-lakāra (imperative), Madhyama-puruṣa (2nd), Ekavacana; parasmaipada

• trikūṭe: at Trikūṭa
• trikūṭe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: trikūṭa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसakaliṅga (n.)/or masculine place-name usage; Saptamī-vibhakti (Loc. 7), Ekavacana

• jāhnavīm: the Jāhnavī (Gaṅgā)
• jāhnavīm: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jāhnavī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (f.), Dvitīyā-vibhakti (Acc. 2), Ekavacana; upamāna in comparison

• iva: like
• iva: Sambandha (उपमा-सूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Upamā-vācaka-avyaya (comparative particle)

Context

'Look at the river flowing towards the east. It has clean water and flows towards the east of the cave and looks like the river Jahnavi flowing on the mount Trikuta. This place looks delightful with the sandalwood, tilaka, sala, tamala, atimukta, padmaka, sarala and asoka trees.

Characters & Entities

• river (nadī)
• cave (guhā)
• Trikūṭa
• Jāhnavī (Gaṅgā)
• candana
• tilaka
• tāla
• tamāla
• atimuktaka
• padmaka
• aśoka

FAQs

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

Purity and clarity (symbolized by the unmuddy river) mirror satya—clear speech and clear intention—needed to sustain a dharmic undertaking.

What is the narrative situation?

The speaker highlights a clear, east-flowing river near a cave and describes its flora, marking it as a significant and pleasant waypoint.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Mindful leadership-support—identifying resources (water, route markers) so the mission proceeds safely and effectively.