Shloka 46

गोदावरीतटे सीतान्वेषणम्

The Search for Sītā at the Godāvarī

Devanagari script

काञ्चनोरश्छदा श्चेमे पिशाचवदनाः खराः।भीमरूपा महाकायाः कस्य वा निहता रणे।।।।

Transliteration

kāñcanoraśchadāś ceme piśācavadanāḥ kharāḥ | bhīmarūpā mahākāyāḥ kasya vā nihatā raṇe || 3.64.46 ||

Translation

แล้วลาพวกนี้เป็นของผู้ใด—สวมเกราะอกทองคำ หน้าดุจปีศาจพิศาจ รูปน่ากลัว กายมหึมา—ถูกสังหารในสนามรบที่นี่?

Word by Word

• काञ्चन-उरः-छदाः: having golden chest-covers
• काञ्चन-उरः-छदाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: काञ्चन (प्रातिपदिक) + उरस् (प्रातिपदिक) + छद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (काञ्चनम् उरः-छदः येषाम्)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय

• इमे: these
• इमे: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; निर्देशवाचक

• पिशाच-वदनाः: having demon-like faces
• पिशाच-वदनाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पिशाच (प्रातिपदिक) + वदन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (पिशाचस्य वदनम् इव वदनं येषाम्)

• खराः: Khara's (followers)/the Kharas
• खराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेष्य (इमे)

• भीम-रूपाः: of terrible form
• भीम-रूपाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भीम (प्रातिपदिक) + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः (भीमं रूपं येषाम्)

• महा-कायाः: huge-bodied
• महा-कायाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + काय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः (महान् कायः येषाम्)

• कस्य: whose
• कस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी, एकवचन; प्रश्नवाचक

• वा: indeed / or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक अव्यय (particle: or/indeed)

• निहताः: slain
• निहताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निहत (कृदन्त; √हन् with नि-)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त) ‘slain’

• रणे: in battle
• रणे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), एकवचन

Context

Whose are these donkeys, with golden chest-coverings, with the devil's face, fierceful and huge and slain in the encounter ?

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Lakshmana
• Donkeys (khara)

FAQs

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

Dharma as truth-seeking: Rāma continues identifying signs to understand the perpetrators and restore moral order.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma notices slain, ornamented animals associated with a combatant’s conveyance or retinue, strengthening the inference of a fierce encounter.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Perseverance in investigation: Rāma does not overlook details, even amid distress.