Shloka 13

सीतान्वेषणविलापः

Rama’s Lament and Search for Sita

Devanagari script

स्निग्धपल्लवसङ्काशा पीतकौशेयवासिनी।शंसस्व यदि वा दृष्टा बिल्व बिल्वोपमस्तनी।।3.60.13।।

Transliteration

snigdha-pallava-saṅkāśā pīta-kauśeya-vāsinī | śaṃsasva yadi vā dṛṣṭā bilva bilvopama-stanī || 3.60.13 ||

Translation

O Bilva-Baum—wenn du sie gesehen hast, verkünde es mir: die Frau, zart wie ein glänzendes junges Blatt, in gelber Seide gekleidet, mit Brüsten rund wie die Bilva-Frucht.

Word by Word

• athavā: or else
• athavā: Vikalpa (विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: athavā (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय

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

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

• tvam: you
• tvam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• priyām: (my) beloved
• priyām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: priyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• tām: that (her)
• tām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• arjuna-priyām: fond of the Arjuna tree
• arjuna-priyām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: arjuna + priyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (arjunasya priyā)

• janakasya: of Janaka
• janakasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: janaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी विभक्ति, एकवचन (Genitive singular)

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

• bhīruḥ: the timid one
• bhīruḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhīru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणार्थे (timid one)

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

• jīvati: is alive
• jīvati: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √jīv (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• vā: or
• vā: Vikalpa (विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय

• na: not
• na: Nishedha (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय

• vā: or
• vā: Vikalpa (विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय

Context

O Arjuna tree, tell me if you know a timid lady, daughter of Janaka and my beloved, fond of Arjuna tree. Is the living or not ?

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Sītā

FAQs

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

Dharma is steadfast love within rightful marriage (pativrata/pati-dharma context implied): Rāma’s searching speech reflects commitment and truthful remembrance rather than turning away in despair.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma continues questioning the trees, describing Sītā’s appearance to help identify whether anyone (even nature) ‘saw’ her pass by.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Loyalty and tenderness—his detailed recollection shows intimate care, not mere possessiveness.