Shloka 31

सीतान्वेषणविलापः

Rama’s Lament and Search for Sita

Devanagari script

नूनं तच्छुभदन्तोष्ठं सुनासं चारुकुण्डलम्।पूर्णचन्द्रनिभं ग्रस्तं मुखंनिष्प्रभतां गतम्।।3.60.31।।

Transliteration

nūnaṃ tacchubhadantoṣṭhaṃ sunāsaṃ cārukuṇḍalam | pūrṇacandranibhaṃ grastaṃ mukhaṃ niṣprabhatāṃ gatam || 3.60.31 ||

Translation

Sicherlich ist jenes Gesicht – geschmückt mit lieblichen Zähnen und Lippen, einer wohlgeformten Nase und schönen Ohrringen, strahlend wie der Vollmond – verfinstert und seines Glanzes beraubt worden.

Word by Word

• नूनम्: surely
• नूनम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nūnam (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; निश्चयार्थक (surely)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Viśeṣya-nirdeśa (विशेष्यनिर्देश)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (Neuter, Nom/Acc singular); अत्र विशेष्य-निर्देश (refers to 'face')

• शुभदन्तोष्ठम्: with beautiful teeth and lips
• शुभदन्तोष्ठम्: Karma-viśeṣaṇa (कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śubha + danta + oṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास (दन्ताश्च ओष्ठाश्च), तदुपरि कर्मधारयभावः (शुभौ), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (Neuter, Accusative singular)

• सुनासम्: with a fine nose
• सुनासम्: Karma-viśeṣaṇa (कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su + nāsā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (सु-उपसर्गपूर्वक), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (Neuter, Accusative singular)

• चारुकुण्डलम्: with lovely earrings
• चारुकुण्डलम्: Karma-viśeṣaṇa (कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: cāru + kuṇḍala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (चारु कुण्डलम्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (Neuter, Accusative singular)

• पूर्णचन्द्रनिभम्: like the full moon
• पूर्णचन्द्रनिभम्: Karma-viśeṣaṇa (कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pūrṇa + candra + nibha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (पूर्णचन्द्रस्य निभम्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (Neuter, Accusative singular)

• ग्रस्तम्: eclipsed, seized
• ग्रस्तम्: Karma-viśeṣaṇa (कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: gras (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (PPP), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (Neuter, Accusative singular)

• मुखम्: face
• मुखम्: Karma (कर्म; object understood with 'nūnam' as lament)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (Neuter, Accusative singular)

• निष्प्रभताम्: dullness, loss of radiance
• निष्प्रभताम्: Gati-karman (गतिकर्म; goal/state with 'gatam')
• Type: Noun
• Root: niṣ + prabhā + tā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (Feminine, Accusative singular); भाववाचक (state/condition)

• गतम्: gone to, become
• गतम्: Kriyā (क्रिया; predicate describing mukha)
• Type: Verb
• Root: gam (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (PPP), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (Neuter, Accusative singular)

Context

Her beautiful face with her sparkling teeth and lips, well-shaped nose, shining ear-rings has been like the full moon, eclipsed and rendered pale.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Sītā
• Lakṣmaṇa

FAQs

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

Dharma is expressed through reverence for the beloved’s dignity: even in despair, Rāma speaks of Sītā with honor and tenderness, reflecting righteous love rather than possessiveness.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma continues imagining Sītā’s death, describing her face as if its radiance has been extinguished.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Compassionate fidelity—his grief is intertwined with deep appreciation of Sītā’s personhood and virtue.