Shloka 22

Devanagari script

बह्वीश्च विविधाकारा रूपयौवनगर्विताः।स्त्रियस्सुग्रीवभवने ददर्श सुमहाबलः।।।।

Transliteration

bahvīś ca vividhākārā rūpayauvanagarvitāḥ |

striyaḥ sugrīvabhavane dadarśa sumahābalaḥ ||

Translation

سومہاباہو لکشمن نے سُگریو کے بھون میں بہت سی عورتیں دیکھیں، جو گوناگوں صورتوں والی تھیں اور اپنے حسن و شباب پر نازاں تھیں۔

Word by Word

• bahvīḥ: many
• bahvīḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bahu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया) Plural (बहुवचन), qualifying 'striyaḥ'

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक)

• vividha-ākārāḥ: of various forms
• vividha-ākārāḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vividha (प्रातिपदिक) + ākāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya (कर्मधारय) adjective; Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया) Plural (बहुवचन), qualifying 'striyaḥ'

• rūpa-yauvana-garvitāḥ: proud of beauty and youth
• rūpa-yauvana-garvitāḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rūpa (प्रातिपदिक) + yauvana (प्रातिपदिक) + garvita (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) adjective; Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया) Plural (बहुवचन), qualifying 'striyaḥ'

• striyaḥ: women
• striyaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: strī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया) Plural (बहुवचन)

• sugrīva-bhavane: in Sugrīva's palace
• sugrīva-bhavane: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sugrīva (प्रातिपदिक) + bhavana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष) 'of Sugrīva' + bhavana; Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (सप्तमी) Singular (एकवचन)

• dadarśa: saw
• dadarśa: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), Parasmaipada, 3rd person Singular

• su-mahā-balaḥ: the very mighty one
• su-mahā-balaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + bala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Bahuvrīhi (बहुव्रीहि) adjective 'of very great strength'; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा) Singular (एकवचन)

Context

Powerful Lakshmana saw many females of different forms proud of their youth and charm at the palace of Sugriva.

Characters & Entities

• Lakṣmaṇa
• Sugrīva
• Sugrīva-bhavana (Sugrīva’s palace)

FAQs

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

Dharma as guarded conduct around the private sphere: the presence of sensuality heightens the need for maryādā (propriety) and mental steadiness.

What is the narrative situation?

Lakṣmaṇa, searching within the palace, encounters the festive inner environment where women are present and adorned.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Moral alertness: Lakṣmaṇa’s gaze is descriptive, not indulgent—serving the narrative of accountability.