Shloka 121

पम्पा

तीर-वर्णनम् / Rama’s Lament at Pampa and the Approach to Rishyamuka

Devanagari script

उत्साहो बलवानार्य नास्त्युत्साहात्परं बलम्।सोत्साहस्यास्ति लोकेऽस्मिन् न किञ्चिदपि दुर्लभम्।।।।

Transliteration

utsāho balavān ārya nāsty utsāhāt paraṃ balam | sotsāhasyāsti loke 'smin na kiñcid api durlabham ||

Translation

يا أيها النبيل، إن العزمُ والمبادرةَ هما القوةُ الحقّة؛ فلا قوةَ أعظمَ من العزم. ومن كان ثابتَ الإرادة، فلا شيء في هذا العالم يعسرُ عليه نيله.

Word by Word

• उत्साहः: effort/enterprise
• उत्साहः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उत्साह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• बलवान्: powerful
• बलवान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बलवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण of 'उत्साहः'

• आर्य: O noble one
• आर्य: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

• नास्ति: there is not
• नास्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; न + अस्ति

• उत्साहात्: than effort/from effort
• उत्साहात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उत्साह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन

• परं: greater/supreme
• परं: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; used predicatively with 'बलम्'

• बलम्: strength
• बलम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• सोत्साहस्य: of the enthusiastic person
• सोत्साहस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स + उत्साह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; 'one who has effort/enthusiasm'

• अस्ति: there is
• अस्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• लोके: in the world
• लोके: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• अस्मिन्: in this
• अस्मिन्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; demonstrative pronoun

• न: not
• न: Sambandha/Avyaya (अव्यय-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध (negation particle)

• किञ्चित्: anything
• किञ्चित्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; indefinite 'anything'

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha/Avyaya (अव्यय-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle) = even/also

• दुर्लभम्: hard to obtain
• दुर्लभम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर्लभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; predicate adjective of 'किञ्चित्'

Context

'O revered Sire, enterprise is supreme strength. Nothing is difficult in this world for one who is up and doing.

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Lakshmana

FAQs

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

Dharma is sustained by initiative: righteous goals are fulfilled through courageous effort, not resignation.

What is the narrative situation?

Lakshmana motivates Rama, reframing power as ‘utsāha’—the inner drive needed to complete the rescue and restore justice.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Energetic resolve (utsāha) as a kingly and dharmic virtue enabling difficult duties.