Shloka 12

पश्चिमदिशि अन्वेषणादेशः

Instructions for the Western Search Party

Devanagari script

तत्र सीतां च मार्गध्वं निलयं रावणस्य च।।4.42.12।।वेलातलनिविष्टेषु पर्वतेषु वनेषु च।मुरचीपत्तनं चैव रम्यं चैव जटीपुरम्।।4.42.13।।अवन्तीमङ्गलोपां च तथा चालक्षितं वनम्।राष्ट्राणि च विशालानि पत्तनानि ततस्ततः।।4.42.14।।

Transliteration

tatra sītāṃ ca mārgadhvaṃ nilayaṃ rāvaṇasya ca ||4.42.12||

vēlātalaniviṣṭeṣu parvateṣu vaneṣu ca |

Translation

ณ ที่นั้น จงสืบเสาะหานางสีดาด้วย และสำนักพำนักของทศกัณฐ์ด้วย ในหมู่ภูผาและพนาสณฑ์ที่ตั้งอยู่ตามแนวชายฝั่งทะเล

Word by Word

• तस्य: of it/of that
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; refers to the mountain

• प्रस्थेषु: on the plateaus/slopes
• प्रस्थेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रस्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचन

• रम्येषु: beautiful
• रम्येषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रम्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचन; adjective qualifying प्रस्थेषु

• सिंहाः: lions
• सिंहाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सिंह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• पक्षगमाः: wing-moving/winged (flying)
• पक्षगमाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पक्ष + गम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (पक्षैः गमनं येषाम्/पक्षेण गच्छन्ति); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; adjective qualifying सिंहाः

• स्थिताः: are stationed/dwell
• स्थिताः: Kriya (क्रिया/भाव)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP) from √स्था (तिष्ठति); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; predicative with सिंहाः

• तिमिमत्स्यगजान्: whales, fishes, and elephants
• तिमिमत्स्यगजान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तिमि + मत्स्य + गज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास (तिमयः मत्स्याः गजाः च); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• एव: also/indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय

• नीडानि: nests/dens
• नीडानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नीड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• आरोपयन्ति: they place/raise
• आरोपयन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + रुह् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद; causative sense 'to place/raise' (आरोपयति) from √रुह् (आरोहणे)

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; pronoun referring to सिंहाः

Context

'Look for Sita as well as the residence of Ravana.You should find the whereabouts of Sita in the mountains and forests located on the sea shore. Search in the city of Murachi, beautiful city of Jata, Avanti, Angalopa and in the unnoticed forestland. Look for her in the vast kingdoms and cities all over.

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Rāvaṇa
• Mountains
• Forests

FAQs

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

Dharma as commitment to truth and justice: the search is not random; it aims at सत्य (Satya)—finding Sītā’s true whereabouts—and restoring righteousness by identifying the wrongdoer’s base.

What is the narrative situation?

Sugrīva instructs the search teams to look not only for Sītā but also for clues to Rāvaṇa’s location, focusing on coastal mountains and forests.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Prājñatā (practical wisdom) and responsibility: Sugrīva frames the mission with clear objectives—locate the victim and the perpetrator’s stronghold.