Shloka 6

विन्ध्यगुहाविचयः — Searching the Vindhya Caves and the Cursed Forest

Southern Search

Devanagari script

स तु देशो दुरन्वेषो गुहागहनवान्महान्।निर्जलं निर्जनं शून्यं गहनं रोमहर्षणम्।।।।

Transliteration

sa tu deśo duranveṣo guhā-gahanavān mahān |

nirjalaṃ nirjanaṃ śūnyaṃ gahanaṃ romaharṣaṇam ||

Translation

那片地域广大而难以搜寻，深洞密丛遍布；无水、无人、荒寂空旷，幽深难行，令人毛骨悚然。

Word by Word

• saḥ: that
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• tu: indeed/but
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; particle

• deśaḥ: place/region
• deśaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• duranveṣaḥ: hard to search
• duranveṣaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dur + anveṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; viśeṣaṇa of deśaḥ

• guhāgahanavān: having dense caves
• guhāgahanavān: Karta (कर्ता/Subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: guhā + gahana + vat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; bahuvrīhi: yasya guhā-gahanāni santi saḥ (having cave-thickets)

• mahān: great/large
• mahān: Karta (कर्ता/Subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; viśeṣaṇa of deśaḥ

• nirjalam: waterless
• nirjalam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Predicate qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nir + jala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसakaliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; karmadhāraya/tatpuruṣa sense: jalaṃ nāsti (waterless); predicate adjective to deśaḥ (neuter used adverbially/predicatively)

• nirjanam: uninhabited
• nirjanam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Predicate qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nir + jana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसakaliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; 'devoid of people' (jana-abhāva)

• śūnyam: desolate/empty
• śūnyam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Predicate qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śūnya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसakaliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; predicate adjective

• gahanam: dense/impassable
• gahanam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Predicate qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gahana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसakaliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; predicate adjective

• romaharṣaṇam: terrifying
• romaharṣaṇam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Predicate qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: roma + harṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसakaliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: romāṇi harṣayati (causing hair to bristle)

Context

They searched in dense forests, interior locations impassable, desolate and terrific, without water, and people.

Characters & Entities

• Vanaras

FAQs

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

Dharma is tested by adversity: righteous work often requires entering fearful, uncomfortable spaces without abandoning the goal.

What is the narrative situation?

The search party reaches a harsh, desolate terrain that makes the search extremely difficult.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Courage in confronting frightening environments for the sake of duty.