Shloka 42

दक्षिणदिशि सीतान्वेषण-आदेशः

Commissioning the Southern Search for Sītā

Devanagari script

न तु तच्चन्दनं दृष्टवा स्प्रष्टव्यं च कदाचन।।।।रोहिता नाम गन्धर्वा घोरा रक्षन्ति तद्वनम्।

Transliteration

na tu tac candanaṃ dṛṣṭvā spraṣṭavyaṃ ca kadācana |

rohitā nāma gandharvā ghorā rakṣanti tad vanam ||

Translation

Nhưng dẫu có trông thấy chiên-đàn ấy, cũng chớ bao giờ chạm vào; những Càn-thát-bà hung dữ tên Rohita canh giữ khu rừng ấy.

Word by Word

• tatra: there
• tatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: स्थानवाचक-अव्यय

• gandharva-patayaḥ: lords of Gandharvas
• gandharva-patayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gandharva (प्रातिपदिक) + pati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (गन्धर्वाणां पतयः)

• pañca: five
• pañca: Saṅkhyā (संख्या)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: pañca (अव्यय/संख्या)
• Form: संख्यावाचक-अव्यय (numeral, indeclinable)

• sūrya-sama-prabhāḥ: having radiance like the sun
• sūrya-sama-prabhāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sūrya (प्रातिपदिक) + sama (प्रातिपदिक) + prabhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (सूर्येण समा प्रभा येषाम्)

• śailūṣaḥ: Śailūṣa (name)
• śailūṣaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śailūṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; नाम

• grāmaṇīḥ: Grāmaṇī (name)
• grāmaṇīḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: grāmaṇī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; नाम

• śigruḥ: Śigru (name)
• śigruḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śigru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; नाम

• śubhraḥ: Śubhra (name)
• śubhraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śubhra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; नाम

• babhruḥ: Babhru (name)
• babhruḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: babhru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; नाम

• tathā: thus
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: ‘thus/so’)

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

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

• ravi-soma-agni-vapuṣām: of (those) having forms like sun, moon, and fire
• ravi-soma-agni-vapuṣām: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ravi (प्रातिपदिक) + soma (प्रातिपदिक) + agni (प्रातिपदिक) + vapuṣ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; द्वन्द्व-समास (रविः सोमः अग्निः च) + vapuṣām (तेषां वपुषाम् = of forms/radiances)

• nivāsaḥ: dwelling/abode
• nivāsaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nivāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• puṇya-karmaṇām: of the meritorious
• puṇya-karmaṇām: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puṇya (प्रातिपदिक) + karman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष (पुण्यं कर्म येषाम्)

Context

'Never touch when you see the sandal trees, for they are guarded by dreadful gandharvas named Rohitas.

FAQs

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

Dharma is respecting what is forbidden or protected and not taking what is not rightfully yours—restraint prevents needless conflict and preserves the higher mission.

What is the narrative situation?

Sugriva warns the searchers about a guarded sandalwood forest and explicitly forbids touching it.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Obedience to rightful instruction and prudence: disciplined agents avoid avoidable danger and moral transgression.