Shloka 11

विन्ध्यगुहाविचयः — Searching the Vindhya Caves and the Cursed Forest

Southern Search

Devanagari script

न यत्रवृक्षा नौषध्यो न वल्ल्यो नापि वीरुधः।।4.48.10।।स्निग्धपत्रास्स्थले यत्र पद्मिन्यः फुल्लपङ्कजाः।प्रेक्षणीयास्सुगन्धाश्च भ्रमरैश्चापिवर्जिताः।।4.48.11।।

Transliteration

snigdhapatrāḥ sthale yatra padminyaḥ phullapaṅkajāḥ | prekṣaṇīyāḥ sugandhāś ca bhramaraiś cāpi varjitāḥ || 4.48.11 ||

Translation

Ở đó, trên nền đất khô, những đầm sen lá bóng mượt nâng những đóa sen nở rộ—đẹp mắt, hương thơm ngào ngạt, mà lạ thay lại vắng bóng ong bướm.

Word by Word

• kaṇḍuḥ: Kandu
• kaṇḍuḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kaṇḍu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• nāma: by name
• nāma: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Name marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nāma (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; nāma-nipāta (quotative/name-marker: 'by name')

• mahābhāgaḥ: illustrious
• mahābhāgaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā + bhāga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; karmadhāraya: mahān bhāgaḥ yasya (very fortunate/illustrious)

• satyavādī: truthful
• satyavādī: Karta (कर्ता/Subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: satya + vādin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: satyaṃ vadati (truth-speaking)

• tapodhanaḥ: rich in austerity
• tapodhanaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tapas + dhana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: tapo dhanaṃ yasya (whose wealth is austerity)

• maharṣiḥ: great sage
• maharṣiḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject-apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā + ṛṣi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; karmadhāraya: mahān ṛṣiḥ (great sage)

• paramāmarṣī: highly irascible
• paramāmarṣī: Karta (कर्ता/Subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parama + amarṣin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; karmadhāraya: paramaḥ amarṣī (extremely irascible/unyielding)

• niyamaiḥ: by disciplines/vows
• niyamaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: niyama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā (Instrumental), Bahuvacana

• duṣpradharṣaṇaḥ: hard to overpower
• duṣpradharṣaṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dus + pra + dharṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; 'hard to be overpowered/assailed' (difficult-to-attack)

Context

There were no medicinal plants, no vines or creepers spreading on the ground.The lotus creepers on the dry ground had shining leaves,beautiful and fragrant blooms devoid of bees.

Characters & Entities

• Lotus (padma/paṅkaja)
• Bees (bhramara)

FAQs

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

The verse reinforces that when dharmic balance is disturbed (here by a curse), even what appears beautiful can lose its natural harmony—symbolized by flowers without bees.

What is the narrative situation?

The party observes uncanny features of the forest: lotuses bloom on dry land, but the ecosystem is unnaturally silent and empty.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Attentiveness (samādhāna): careful noticing of signs in the environment while pursuing the mission.