Shloka 24

दनु-शापकथा तथा सीताहरण-प्रश्नः

Danu’s Curse Narrative and Rama’s Inquiry about Sita

Devanagari script

काष्ठान्यादाय शुष्काणि काले भग्नानि कुञ्जरैः।।3.71.24।।धक्ष्यामस्त्वां वयं वीर श्वभ्रे महति कल्पिते।

Transliteration

kāṣṭhāny ādāya śuṣkāṇi kāle bhagnāni kuñjaraiḥ | dhakṣyāmas tvāṃ vayaṃ vīra śvabhre mahati kalpite ||

Translation

โอ้วีรบุรุษ เราจะเก็บฟืนแห้งที่ผ่านกาลเวลาและถูกช้างหักพัง แล้วจะประกอบพิธีฌาปนกิจเผาท่านในหลุมใหญ่ที่จัดเตรียมไว้

Word by Word

• kāṣṭhāni: pieces of wood; logs
• kāṣṭhāni: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative 2nd (द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• ādāya: having taken
• ādāya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ā-dā (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त), indeclinable

• śuṣkāṇi: dry
• śuṣkāṇi: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śuṣka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative 2nd (द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन); qualifies kāṣṭhāni

• kāle: in due time; in season
• kāle: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāla (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative 7th (सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• bhagnāni: broken
• bhagnāni: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhaj (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त) used adjectivally; Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative 2nd (द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• kuñjaraiḥ: by elephants
• kuñjaraiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kuñjara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental 3rd (तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• dhakṣyāmaḥ: we will burn; cremate
• dhakṣyāmaḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dah (धातु)
• Form: Future (लृट्), 1st person (उत्तमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• tvām: you
• tvām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yuṣmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Accusative 2nd (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• vayam: we
• vayam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Nominative 1st (प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• vīra: O hero
• vīra: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vīra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Vocative (सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग)

• śvabhre: in a pit
• śvabhre: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śvabhra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative 7th (सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• mahati: large
• mahati: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative 7th (सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन); qualifies śvabhre

• kalpite: prepared; arranged
• kalpite: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kḷp (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त) used adjectivally; Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative 7th (सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with śvabhre

Context

O hero! we will cremate you in a huge pit to be prepared for this occasion, collecting dry logs of wood broken by elephants.

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Lakshmana
• Danu
• Elephants
• Agni (implied by cremation)

FAQs

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

Performing proper last rites is a dharmic obligation; even amid personal crisis, Rāma commits to ritual propriety and respectful treatment of the dead.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma promises Danu that they will prepare materials and a pit and perform his cremation as requested/required.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sense of duty and compassion—upholding sacred rites and honoring commitments.