Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 41, Shloka 8

अंशुमान्—अश्वान्वेषणम्, दिशागजसंवादः, कपिलदाहवृत्तान्तः, गङ्गोपदेशः

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

Devanagari script

स तं प्रदक्षिणं कृत्वा पृष्ट्वा चापि निरामयम्।पितृ़न् स परिपप्रच्छ वाजिहर्तारमेव च।।।।

Transliteration

sa taṃ pradakṣiṇaṃ kṛtvā pṛṣṭvā cāpi nirāmayam | pitṝn sa paripapraccha vājihartāram eva ca ||

Translation

Ngài đi nhiễu quanh con voi ấy theo nghi lễ, rồi ân cần hỏi thăm sự an ổn; kế đó, Ngài hỏi về các bậc thúc phụ, và cũng hỏi về kẻ đã đoạt mất con ngựa tế lễ.

Word by Word

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (तद् प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• tam: that (one)
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (तद् प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• pradakṣiṇam: circumambulation
• pradakṣiṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pradakṣiṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुṃsaka-liṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; used with 'kṛtvā' in sense 'pradakṣiṇāṃ'

• kṛtvā: having done
• kṛtvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: √kṛ (कृ धातु) + ktvā (क्त्वा)
• Form: Absolutive (ktvā), 'having done'

• pṛṣṭvā: having asked
• pṛṣṭvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: √prach (प्रच्छ् धातु) + ktvā (क्त्वा)
• Form: Absolutive, 'having asked/enquired'

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

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (also)

• nirāmayam: well-being / health
• nirāmayam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nir-āmaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: 'free from illness' (well-being)

• pitṝn: the forefathers
• pitṝn: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Bahuvacana

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (तद् प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana (repetition for emphasis)

• paripapraccha: asked thoroughly
• paripapraccha: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pari√prach (प्रच्छ् धातु)
• Form: Liṭ lakāra (Perfect), Prathama-puruṣa, Ekavacana; parasmaipada

• vājihartāram: the horse-stealer
• vājihartāram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāji-hartṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: vājiṃ harati iti = 'horse-stealer'

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

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

Context

'Honour those who deserve it. Kill those who cause obstacles to sacrifice. Come back with your mission accomplishing. And ensure the (successful) completion of my sacrifice'.

Characters & Entities

• Anśumān
• diśāgaja (elephant of the quarter)
• Sagara’s sons (Anśumān’s uncles)
• sacrificial horse (vāji)

FAQs

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

Maryādā and satya-oriented inquiry: Anśumān approaches a revered being with respect (pradakṣiṇā) and then seeks truthful information to fulfill a righteous task.

What is the narrative situation?

Anśumān meets the directional elephant, honors it, and asks for guidance about his missing uncles and the stolen sacrificial horse.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Vinaya (humility) combined with purposefulness—courtesy does not weaken resolve; it supports right action.