Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 41, Shloka 11

अंशुमान्—अश्वान्वेषणम्, दिशागजसंवादः, कपिलदाहवृत्तान्तः, गङ्गोपदेशः

Anshuman’s Search for the Horse and the Counsel to Bring Ganga

Devanagari script

तैश्च सर्वैर्दिशापालैर्वाक्यज्ञैर्वाक्यकोविदै:।पूजितस्सहयश्चैव गन्ताऽसीत्यभिचोदित:।।।।

Transliteration

taiś ca sarvair diśāpālair vākyajñair vākyakovidaiḥ | pūjitaḥ sahayaś caiva gantā ’sīty abhicoditaḥ ||

Translation

Được tất cả các Hộ Phương—những bậc thông đạt ý nghĩa, thiện xảo lời nói—tôn kính và trợ giúp, Anśumān được khích lệ: “Ngươi sẽ trở về, và cả con ngựa nữa.”

Word by Word

• taiḥ: by those
• taiḥ: Kartṛ (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (तद् प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga/Napuṃsaka, Tṛtīyā, Bahuvacana

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya-nipāta

• sarvaiḥ: by all
• sarvaiḥ: Kartṛ (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Bahuvacana; qualifies 'diśāpālaiḥ'

• diśāpālaiḥ: by the guardians of the quarters
• diśāpālaiḥ: Kartṛ (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: diśā-pāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Bahuvacana; 'guardians of the directions' (here: directional elephants)

• vākyajñaiḥ: by those who know speech
• vākyajñaiḥ: Kartṛ (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vākya-jña (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Bahuvacana; qualifies 'diśāpālaiḥ'

• vākyakovidaiḥ: by those skilled in speech
• vākyakovidaiḥ: Kartṛ (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vākya-kovida (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Bahuvacana; qualifies 'diśāpālaiḥ'

• pūjitaḥ: honored
• pūjitaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √pūj (पूज् धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Kta-participle, Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; predicate of subject (Aṃśumān): 'having been honored'

• saha: with
• saha: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: saha (अव्यय)
• Form: Sahārtha-avyaya (with)

• yaḥ: the horse (lit. 'which')
• yaḥ: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (यद् प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; here used for 'aśvaḥ' in epic variant reading 'saha yaḥ' = 'with the horse'

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya-nipāta

• eva: indeed
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Avadhāraṇa-nipāta (indeed)

• gantā: one who will go
• gantā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √gam (गम् धातु) + tṛ (तृ)
• Form: Agent noun (tṛ), Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; periphrastic future predicate with 'asi' = 'you will go'

• asi: you are (i.e., you will be)
• asi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (अस् धातु)
• Form: Laṭ lakāra (Present), Madhyama-puruṣa, Ekavacana; auxiliary in periphrastic future construction

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Quotative particle (iti)

• abhicoditaḥ: was instructed
• abhicoditaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: abhi√cud (चुद् धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Kta-participle, Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; 'having been urged/instructed'

Context

All those elephants of the quarters were knowers of the essence of words and proficient in the right use of words. Treating him kindly the elephants encouraged him saying, 'You will go back with the horse'.

Characters & Entities

• Anśumān
• sacrificial horse (Aśva)

FAQs

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

Right speech supports dharma: the guardians are praised as discerning and precise in words, implying that truthful, well-aimed counsel sustains righteous action.

What is the narrative situation?

The direction-guardians receive Anśumān respectfully and give him assurance of success in recovering the horse.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Trust in righteous guidance—Anśumān receives encouragement from legitimate cosmic authorities.