Shloka 11

सीतान्वेषणविलापः

Rama’s Lament and Search for Sita

Devanagari script

वृक्षाद्वृक्षं प्रधावन्सगिरेश्चाद्रिं नदान्नदीम्।बभूव विलपन्रामश्शोकार्णवपरिप्लुतः।।3.60.11।।

Transliteration

vṛkṣād vṛkṣaṃ pradhāvan sagireś cādriṃ nadān nadīm | babhūva vilapan rāmaḥ śokārṇava-pariplutaḥ || 3.60.11 ||

Translation

Von Baum zu Baum eilte er, von Berg zu Berg, von Fluss zu Fluss; Rāma irrte weinend umher, als wäre er in einem Ozean der Trauer versunken.

Word by Word

• api: perhaps
• api: Sambhavana (सम्भावना)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्न/सम्भावना-अव्यय (particle: perhaps/indeed)

• kācit: some (woman)
• kācit: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; अनिर्दिष्टा (indefinite: some woman)

• tvayā: by you
• tvayā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/सर्वनाम, तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• dṛṣṭā: seen
• dṛṣṭā: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dṛś (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि-भाव (seen)

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

• kadamba-priyā: fond of kadamba
• kadamba-priyā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kadamba + priyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (kadambasya priyā)

• priyā: beloved
• priyā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: priyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• kadamba: O Kadamba (tree)
• kadamba: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kadamba (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन विभक्ति, एकवचन (vocative; addressing the tree)

• yadi: if
• yadi: Nimitta (निमित्त)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yadi (अव्यय)
• Form: शर्त-अव्यय (conditional conjunction: if)

• jānīṣe: you know
• jānīṣe: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √jñā (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन

• śaṃsa: tell
• śaṃsa: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śaṃs (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन

• sītām: Sita
• sītām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sītā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• śubhānanām: fair-faced
• śubhānanām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śubha + ānana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (śubham ānanam yasyāḥ)

Context

O Kadamba tree, tell me if you have seen my beloved with a fair face and with love for kadamba flowers.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma

FAQs

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

Dharma is shown as steadfast commitment: even in crushing sorrow, Rāma does not abandon the duty of seeking Sītā; grief does not erase responsibility.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma searches the wilderness desperately after Sītā’s abduction, moving rapidly through the landscape and lamenting.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Perseverance rooted in love and duty—his emotional pain is intense, yet it fuels relentless action rather than paralysis.