Shloka 17

ऋक्षबिलप्रवेशः

Entry into the Rikshabilam Cave

Devanagari script

इत्युक्त्वा तद्बिलं सर्वे विविशुस्तिमिरावृतम्।।।।अचन्द्रसूर्यं हरयो ददृशू रोमहर्षणम्।

Transliteration

ity uktvā tad bilaṃ sarve viviśus timirāvṛtam |

acandrasūryaṃ harayo dadṛśū romaharṣaṇam ||

Translation

Pagkasabi nito, silang lahat ay pumasok sa yungib na nababalot ng dilim. Namalas ng mga unggoy ang isang kadilimang walang araw at walang buwan—nakapangilabot, anupa’t tumindig ang balahibo.

Word by Word

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/quotative marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; इति-शब्दः (quotative particle)

• uktvā: having said
• uktvā: Kriya (क्रिया/पूर्वकर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (वच् धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); परस्मैपदी; ‘having said’

• tat: that
• tat: Karma (कर्म/qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (तद् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (कर्म) एकवचन; demonstrative ‘that’ (agreeing with bilaṃ)

• bilam: cave
• bilam: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bila (बिल प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (कर्म) एकवचन

• sarve: all (of them)
• sarve: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (सर्व प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (कर्ता) बहुवचन

• viviśuḥ: entered
• viviśuḥ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-viś (विश् धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्षभूत); परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष; बहुवचन

• timira-āvṛtam: covered with darkness
• timira-āvṛtam: Karma (कर्म/qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: timira (तिमिर प्रातिपदिक) + āvṛta (आवृत कृदन्त, √vṛ ‘to cover’)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (instrumental/agentive sense: ‘covered by darkness’); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचन (agreeing with bilaṃ)

• acandra-sūryam: without moon and sun (light)
• acandra-sūryam: Karma (कर्म/object-complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a- (नञ्) + candra (चन्द्र) + sūrya (सूर्य)
• Form: नञ्-पूर्वक द्वन्द्व-समास (‘moon and sun’ as a pair, negated); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचन (agreeing with romaharṣaṇam / as object-complement)

• harayaḥ: monkeys
• harayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hari (हरि प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा बहुवचन

• dadṛśuḥ: saw
• dadṛśuḥ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (दृश् धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्षभूत); परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष; बहुवचन

• roma-harṣaṇam: horripilating, hair-raising
• roma-harṣaṇam: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: roma (रोम) + harṣaṇa (हर्षण प्रातिपदिक, from √hṛṣ ‘to thrill’)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (‘hair-thrilling’); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचन (object of dadṛśuḥ)

Context

'From this cave have emerged several birds like sarasas, swans, kraunchas and chakravakas drenched in water. Surely there must be a source of plenty of water or well or a pond. Moreover there are shining( green) trees at the entrance of the cave (suggesting subsoil water).'

Characters & Entities

• Cave (bila)
• Monkeys (harayaḥ)

FAQs

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

Dharma as steadfastness: once a righteous course is chosen, they proceed together, accepting hardship without abandoning collective responsibility.

What is the narrative situation?

The troop enters the cave and encounters complete darkness, heightening tension and danger.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Solidarity and endurance—moving forward as a group despite fear.