Shloka 8

अयोमुखी-दर्शनम् तथा कबन्ध-प्रवेशः

Ayomukhi Encounter and the ظهور of Kabandha

Devanagari script

ततः पूर्वेण तौ गत्वा त्रिक्रोशं भ्रातरौ तदा।क्रौञ्चारण्यमतिक्रम्य मतङ्गाश्रममन्तरा।।।।दृष्ट्वा तु तद्वनं घोरं बहुभीममृगद्विजम्।ननासत्त्वसमाकीर्णं सर्वं गहनपादपम्।।।।ददृशाते तु तौ तत्र दरीं दशरथात्मजौ।पातालसमगम्भीरां तमसा नित्यसंवृताम्।।।।

Transliteration

tataḥ pūrveṇa tau gatvā trikrōśaṃ bhrātarau tadā |

krauñcāraṇyam atikramya mataṅgāśramam antarā ||

dṛṣṭvā tu tad vanaṃ ghoraṃ bahubhīmamṛgadvijam |

nānāsattvasamākīrṇaṃ sarvaṃ gahanapādapam ||

dadṛśāte tu tau tatra darīṃ daśarathātmajau |

pātālasamagambhīrāṃ tamasā nityasaṃvṛtām ||

Translation

پھر وہ دونوں بھائی مشرق کی سمت تین کروش چلے۔ کرونچ کے جنگل کو، مہارشی متنگ کے آشرم کے قریب سے پار کر کے، انہوں نے ایک ہولناک بن دیکھا—گھنے درختوں سے بھرا، طرح طرح کے جانداروں سے اٹا ہوا، خوفناک درندوں اور پرندوں سے معمور۔ وہاں دشرتھ کے دونوں پترَوں نے ایک غار دیکھا جو پاتال کی مانند نہایت گہرا تھا اور ہمیشہ تاریکی کے پردے میں ڈھکا رہتا تھا۔

Word by Word

• āsādya: having approached
• āsādya: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ā-sad (धातु) → āsādya (कृदन्त)
• Form: Absolutive (ल्यप्), avyaya-kṛdanta; ‘having reached/approached’

• tau: those two
• tau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

• nara-vyāghrau: the two best of men
• nara-vyāghrau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara (प्रातिपदिक) + vyāghra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual; समासः—कर्मधारय (tigers among men = best of men)

• daryāḥ: from the cave
• daryāḥ: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: darī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular

• tasyāḥ: of that
• tasyāḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular; refers to ‘that (cave)’

• avidūrataḥ: not far away
• avidūrataḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: avidūra (प्रातिपदिक) → avidūratas (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb ‘not far (from)’

• dadṛśāte: they two saw
• dadṛśāte: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person, Dual; ātmanepada

• mahā-rūpām: of huge form
• mahā-rūpām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + rūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular; agrees with rākṣasīm; समासः—कर्मधारय (of huge form)

• rākṣasīm: a demoness
• rākṣasīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rākṣasī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• vikṛta-ananām: with a disfigured face
• vikṛta-ananām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vikṛta (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक) + anana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular; agrees with rākṣasīm; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (disfigured-faced)

Context

Firm in the strength of truth, famous and powerful Rama, son of Dasaratha, determined to act with a steadfast mind, spoke to Lakshmana of mighty manliness on seeing him.ityārṣa śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē araṇyakāṇḍē ēkōnasaptatitamassargaḥ৷৷Thus ends the sixtyninth sarga of Aranyakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.

Characters & Entities

• Matanga
• Rama
• Lakshmana
• Dasaratha
• Patala (netherworld)
• Cave (dari)

FAQs

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

Dharma as fearlessness in righteous pursuit: the heroes continue into threatening terrain because the cause—recovering Sītā and restoring order—is just.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa travel east, pass the Krauncha forest near Mataṅga’s hermitage, and encounter a terrifying forest and a deep, dark cave.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Śaurya (valor): willingness to enter perilous places in the course of duty.