Shloka 11

दक्षिणदिशि सीतान्वेषण-आदेशः

Commissioning the Southern Search for Sītā

Devanagari script

विदर्भानृषिकांश्चैव रम्यान्माहिषकानपि।तथा वङ्गान्कलिङ्गांश्च कौशिकांश्च समन्ततः।।।।अन्वीक्ष्य दण्डकारण्यं सपर्वतनदीगुहाम्।नदीं गोदावरीं चैव सर्वमेवानुपश्यत।।।।तथैवान्ध्रांश्च पुण्ड्रांश्च चोलान्पाण्ड्यांत्स केरलान्।

Transliteration

vidarbhān ṛṣikāṃś caiva ramyān māhiṣakān api |

tathā vaṅgān kaliṅgāṃś ca kauśikāṃś ca samantataḥ ||

anvīkṣya daṇḍakāraṇyaṃ sa-parvata-nadī-guhām |

nadīṃ godāvarīṃ caiva sarvam evānupaśyata ||

tathaivāndhrāṃś ca puṇḍrāṃś ca colān pāṇḍyāṃs tathā keralān |

Translation

విదర్భ, ఋషిక దేశాలు, అలాగే రమణీయమైన మాహిషక ప్రాంతంలోనూ వెదకండి; అలాగే వంగ, కలింగ మరియు చుట్టూ ఉన్న కౌశిక ప్రాంతమంతటా కూడా. పర్వతాలు, నదులు, గుహలతో కూడిన దండకారణ్యాన్ని అన్వేషించి, గోదావరి నది తీరాలన్నింటినీ జాగ్రత్తగా పరిశీలించండి. అదే విధంగా ఆంధ్ర, పుండ్ర, చోళ, పాండ్య, కేరళ దేశాలలోనూ వెదకండి।

Word by Word

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

• ताम्: that
• ताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (सर्वनाम), Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• आपगाम्: river/stream
• आपगाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āpagā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); apposition to ताम्

• दिव्याम्: divine
• दिव्याम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: divya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); adjective qualifying आपगाम्

• प्रसन्नसलिलाम्: with clear waters
• प्रसन्नसलिलाम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prasanna + salila (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya (कर्मधारय) ‘having clear/pure water’; Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• शिवाम्: auspicious/sacred
• शिवाम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śivā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); adjective qualifying आपगाम्

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb of place (देशवाचक अव्यय)

• द्रक्ष्यथ: you all will see
• द्रक्ष्यथ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dṛś (धातु)
• Form: Luṭ-lakāra (लुट्, periphrastic future; future sense), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 2nd person (मध्यमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन)

• कावेरीम्: Kāvēri (Cauvery)
• कावेरीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāvēri (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• विहिताम्: fashioned/arranged
• विहिताम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi-√dhā + kta (धातु)
• Form: PPP (क्त) from vi-√dhā ‘arranged/created’; Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); adjective qualifying कावेरीम्

• अप्सरोगणैः: by groups of apsarases
• अप्सरोगणैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: apsaras + gaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) ‘groups of apsarases’; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

Context

'Look for Sita in the countries of Vidarbha and Rishika, in the picturesque country of Mashaka, Vanga and Kalinga and all over Kausika. Look for her in mountains caves and on river banks, in Dandaka forest, in Godavari, in Andhra also in Pundra, Chola and Pandya countries and all over Kerala.

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Vāṅga
• Kauśika
• Daṇḍaka forest (Daṇḍakāraṇya)
• Godāvarī river

FAQs

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

Dharma is steadfast fulfillment of entrusted duty: the searchers must be thorough and unbiased, examining every region carefully rather than acting on assumptions.

What is the narrative situation?

Sugrīva gives a detailed itinerary to the southern party, listing kingdoms and natural landmarks where Sītā might be found, emphasizing comprehensive reconnaissance.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Perseverance and discipline—systematic searching across difficult terrain (forests, caves, rivers) without neglecting any place.