Srimad Bhagavatam — Navama Skandha, Shloka 31

Śrī Rāmacandra-avatāra — Vow, Exile, Laṅkā-vijaya, and Rāma-rājya

Concise Bhāgavata Account

Devanagari script

राम: प्रियतमां भार्यां दीनां वीक्ष्यान्वकम्पत । आत्मसन्दर्शनाह्लादविकसन्मुखपङ्कजाम् ॥ ३१ ॥

Transliteration

rāmaḥ priyatamāṁ bhāryāṁ dīnāṁ vīkṣyānvakampata ātma-sandarśanāhlāda- vikasan-mukha-paṅkajām

Translation

Seeing His wife in that condition, Lord Rāmacandra was very compassionate. When Rāmacandra came before her, she was exceedingly happy to see her beloved, and her lotuslike mouth showed her joy.

Synonyms

• rāmaḥ: Rama
• rāmaḥ: Kartā (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Prathamā vibhakti (प्रथमा/1st case), Eka-vacana (एकवचन)

• priyatamām: most beloved
• priyatamām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: priyatama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā vibhakti (द्वितीया/2nd case), Eka-vacana (एकवचन); superlative sense (अतिशय)

• bhāryām: wife
• bhāryām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhāryā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā vibhakti (द्वितीया/2nd case), Eka-vacana (एकवचन)

• dīnām: wretched, distressed
• dīnām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dīna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā vibhakti (द्वितीया/2nd case), Eka-vacana (एकवचन); viśeṣaṇa of bhāryām

• vīkṣya: having seen
• vīkṣya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vi-īkṣ (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), avyaya-kṛdanta (अव्ययकृदन्त)

• anvakampata: felt compassion / was moved
• anvakampata: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: anu-kamp (धातु)
• Form: Laṅ (लङ्, imperfect), Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद), Prathama-puruṣa (प्रथमपुरुष), Eka-vacana (एकवचन)

• ātma-sandarśana-āhlāda-vikasan-mukha-paṅkajām: whose lotus-like face was blossoming with joy at seeing her own self (Rama)
• ātma-sandarśana-āhlāda-vikasan-mukha-paṅkajām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ātman (प्रातिपदिक) + sandarśana (प्रातिपदिक) + āhlāda (प्रातिपदिक) + vikasan (वि-कस् धातु, शतृ/वर्तमान कृदन्त) + mukha (प्रातिपदिक) + paṅkaja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā vibhakti (द्वितीया/2nd case), Eka-vacana (एकवचन); long samāsa describing bhāryām: ātmano sandarśanena āhlādaḥ (instr.-cause) tena vikasan (present participle) mukha-paṅkajam (karmadhāraya within) yasyāḥ sā

Characters & Entities

• Śrī Rāma
• Sītā

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Lord Rama’s compassion toward Sita?

This verse shows that when Rāma saw Sītā distressed, He was inwardly moved with compassion, revealing His tender-hearted nature even while upholding dharma.

Why does Sita’s face ‘bloom like a lotus’ when she sees Rama?

Because the joy of beholding her beloved Lord dispels her distress; the verse poetically describes devotion and reunion as instantly reviving the heart.

How can this shloka be applied in modern life?

It teaches empathy in relationships and the power of loving remembrance—seeing what is truly dear (God and dharma) can restore hope even amid hardship.