Shloka 13

दक्षिणदिशि सीतान्वेषण-आदेशः

Commissioning the Southern Search for Sītā

Devanagari script

अयोमुखश्च गन्तव्यः पर्वतो धातुमण्डितः।।।।विचित्रशिखर श्श्रीमांश्चित्रपुष्पितकाननः।सचन्दनवनोद्देशो मार्गितव्यो महागिरिः।।।।

Transliteration

ayomukhaś ca gantavyaḥ parvato dhātumaṇḍitaḥ |

vicitraśikharaḥ śrīmāṃś citrapuṣpitakānanaḥ |

sa-candanavanoddeśo mārgitavyo mahāgiriḥ ||

Translation

你们当往阿由穆迦山而去，此山以矿藏为饰，光辉灿然；奇峰耸立，林苑繁花五色缤纷。那座大山又多檀香林地，亦须加以搜寻。

Word by Word

• अयोमुखः: (Mount) Ayomukha
• अयोमुखः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अयोमुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः अयस् + मुख (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः/iron-faced)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunctive)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• गन्तव्यः: should be visited
• गन्तव्यः: विधेय (Predicate/Obligation)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु) + तव्यत् (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: तव्यत्-कृदन्त (gerundive/obligative), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; भावे/कर्तरि प्रयोगः: 'should be gone to/should be visited'

• पर्वतः: mountain
• पर्वतः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject; apposition to अयोमुखः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर्वत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• धातुमण्डितः: adorned with ores/minerals
• धातुमण्डितः: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier of पर्वतः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धातु + मण्डित (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः धातुभिः मण्डितः (तृतीया-तत्पुरुषः/ornamented with ores); मण्डित = √मण्ड् (धातु) क्त-प्रत्यय (past participle)

Context

'Look for Sita all over mount Ayomukha (known as Malaya), rich in ores. It has wonderful peaks. It looks colourful with the forest in bloom. This great mountain is full of sandalwood forest.

FAQs

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

Dharma is meticulousness in a righteous mission: even beautiful or resource-rich places must be examined carefully, not merely admired.

What is the narrative situation?

Sugrīva marks a notable southern landmark (Mount Ayomukha) and instructs the team to search it as part of the route.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Practical wisdom—using geographic features to plan and conduct an effective search.