Shloka 12

सीतान्वेषणारम्भः

The Search for Sita Begins

Devanagari script

अनासादयमानं तं सीतां दशरथात्मजम्।।।।पङ्कमासाद्य विपुलं सीदन्तमिव कुञ्जरम्।लक्ष्मणो राममत्यर्थमुवाच हितकाम्यया।।।।

Transliteration

anāsādayamānaṃ taṃ sītāṃ daśarathātmajam |

paṅkam āsādya vipulaṃ sīdantam iva kuñjaram |

lakṣmaṇo rāmam atyartham uvāca hitakāmyayā ||

Translation

ولمّا عجز ابنُ دَشَرَثا عن العثور على سيتا، وأخذ يغوص كالفيل في وحلٍ عميق، تكلّم لاكشمانا إليه بإلحاح، ابتغاءً لخير راما.

Word by Word

• priya-kānana-sañcārā: fond of roaming in the forest
• priya-kānana-sañcārā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: priya (प्रातिपदिक) + kānana (प्रातिपदिक) + sañcārā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष: ‘प्रियः कानने सञ्चारः यस्याः’; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (of maithilī)

• vanonmattā: mad for the forest
• vanonmattā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vana (प्रातिपदिक) + unmattā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष: ‘वने उन्मत्ता/वनेन उन्मत्ता’; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय

• maithilī: Maithili (Sita)
• maithilī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maithilī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• sā: she
• sā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• vanam: forest
• vanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (disjunctive particle: ‘or’)

• praviṣṭā: entered
• praviṣṭā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: viś (धातु) + pra- (उपसर्ग)
• Form: कृदन्त-भूतकालिक (past active participle, क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• syāt: might be
• syāt: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्-लकार (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• nalinīm: lotus-pond
• nalinīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nalinī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय

• su-puṣpitām: in full bloom
• su-puṣpitām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su (उपसर्ग) + puṣpita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय: ‘सु- पुष्पिता’ (well-flowered); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (of nalinīm)

Context

Lakshmana, dedicated to his well-being, spoke to Rama, son of Dasaratha, who was sinking like an elephant into the quagmire, when he failed to trace Sita.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Sītā
• Lakṣmaṇa
• Daśaratha

FAQs

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

Dharma is also fraternal service: Lakṣmaṇa’s role is to steady Rāma with beneficial counsel when grief overwhelms him.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma’s despair deepens after failing to find Sītā; Lakṣmaṇa intervenes to guide and support him.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Lakṣmaṇa’s loyalty and wise care (hita-kāmyā)—supporting the righteous leader so that dharmic action can continue.