Shloka 24

विन्ध्यगुहाविचयः — Searching the Vindhya Caves and the Cursed Forest

Southern Search

Devanagari script

ते विचित्य पुनः खिन्ना विनिष्पत्य समागताः।एकान्ते वृक्षमूले तु निषेदुर्दीनमानसाः।।।।

Transliteration

te vicitya punaḥ khinnā viniṣpatya samāgatāḥ |

ekānte vṛkṣamūle tu niṣedur dīnamānasāḥ ||

Translation

Tìm kiếm thêm lần nữa, lòng mỏi mệt và thất vọng, họ trở ra rồi tụ họp; nơi vắng lặng dưới gốc cây, tâm hồn sầu não, họ ngồi xuống.

Word by Word

• vicitam: the search (done)/searched
• vicitam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: √cit + vi (धातु) / vicita (प्रातिपदिक, क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle) ‘विचित’; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, द्वितीया; कर्मरूपेण (object: ‘the searching’)

• tu: indeed/but
• tu: None (अव्यय-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/अन्वयबोधक (particle ‘but/indeed’)

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण

• kṛtvā: having done
• kṛtvā: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); पूर्वक्रिया

• sarve: all
• sarve: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; बहुवचन, प्रथमा; विशेषणम् ते

• te: they
• te: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुंलिङ्ग; बहुवचन, प्रथमा

• kānanam: forest
• kānanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kānana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; एकवचन, द्वितीया

• punaḥ: again
• punaḥ: None (अव्यय-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: punaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; पुनरावृत्तिबोधक (adverb ‘again’)

• anyat: another/different
• anyat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; एकवचन, द्वितीया; विशेषणम् गिरिगह्वरम्

• eva: indeed/just
• eva: None (अव्यय-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (emphatic particle)

• aparam: another
• aparam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: apara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; एकवचन, द्वितीया; विशेषणम् गिरिगह्वरम्

• ghoram: terrible
• ghoram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ghora (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; एकवचन, द्वितीया; विशेषणम् गिरिगह्वरम्

• viviśuḥ: entered
• viviśuḥ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √viś (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• girigahvaram: mountain-cave/cleft
• girigahvaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: giri-gahvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (गिरेः गह्वरम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; एकवचन, द्वितीया

Context

Having searched again, the disappointed monkeys collected together under a tree, dejected at heart and sat down in silence.ইত্যার্ষে শ্রীমদ্রামাযণে বল্মীকীয আদিকাব্যে কিষ্কিন্ধাকাণ্ডে অষ্টচত্বারিংশস্সর্গঃ৷৷Thus ends of the fortyeighth sarga in Kishkindakanda of the forst epic, the Holy Ramayana composed by sage Valmiki.

Characters & Entities

• vānarāḥ (monkeys)
• vṛkṣa (tree)

FAQs

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

It acknowledges a human reality within dharma: fatigue and discouragement can arise even in righteous work; the lesson is to pause, regroup, and recover rather than abandon truth and duty.

What is the narrative situation?

After repeated searches yield no success, the Vānara group withdraws from the cave area and rests together under a tree, mentally downcast.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Solidarity—staying together in hardship—along with the implied need for resilience after rest.