Shloka 24

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

اے بہادر! ہم خشک لکڑیاں جمع کریں گے، جو موسم کی مار سے سوکھ چکی ہوں اور ہاتھیوں سے ٹوٹ گئی ہوں؛ اور ایک بڑے گڑھے میں جو رسم کے لیے تیار کیا گیا ہے، ہم تمہاری چتا جلائیں گے۔

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.