Shloka 15

पितृमरणश्रवणं जलक्रिया च

Hearing of Daśaratha’s death and the libation rites at Mandākinī

Devanagari script

सीते मृतस्ते श्वशुरः पित्रा हीनोऽसि लक्ष्मण।भरतो दुःखमाचष्टे स्वर्गतं पृथिवीपतिम्।।।।

Transliteration

sīte mṛtas te śvaśuraḥ pitrā hīno 'si lakṣmaṇa |

bharato duḥkham ācāṣṭe svargataṃ pṛthivīpatim ||

Translation

„Sītā, dein Schwiegervater ist gestorben. Lakṣmaṇa, du bist deines Vaters beraubt. Bharata bringt die schmerzliche Kunde, dass der Herr der Erde in den Himmel eingegangen ist.“

Word by Word

• सीते: O Sita
• सीते: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सीता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• मृतः: is dead
• मृतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; predicate of ‘श्वशुरः’

• ते: your
• ते: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन

• श्वशुरः: father-in-law
• श्वशुरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्वशुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• पित्रा: from (your) father
• पित्रा: Apadana (अपादान/वियोग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• हीनः: deprived
• हीनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; predicate adjective

• असि: you are
• असि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• लक्ष्मण: O Lakshmana
• लक्ष्मण: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्ष्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• भरतः: Bharata
• भरतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भरत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• दुःखम्: sad news/sorrow
• दुःखम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुःख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• आचष्टे: tells/relates
• आचष्टे: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + चक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• स्वर्गतम्: gone to heaven
• स्वर्गतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वर्ग-गत (प्रातिपदिक; गम्-धातु से)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: स्वर्गं गतः; विशेषण of ‘पृथिवीपतिम्’

• पृथिवीपतिम्: lord of the earth (king)
• पृथिवीपतिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पृथिवीपति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: पृथिव्याः पतिः

Context

O Sita, your father-in-law is dead. O Lakshmana, you are deprived of your father. Bharata is relating to me the sad news that king Dasaratha has attained his heavenly abode.

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Sita
• Lakshmana
• Bharata
• Dasharatha

FAQs

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

Satya (truth) expressed with responsibility: Rama conveys painful facts directly, enabling the family to perform the required rites and meet dharmic obligations after a death.

What is the narrative situation?

Rama informs Sita and Lakshmana that Dasharatha has died and that Bharata has brought this grievous news.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rama’s truthful clarity and sense of duty—he prioritizes necessary disclosure over avoidance, even when it intensifies grief.