Shloka 4

षष्टितमः सर्गः — Kausalyā’s Lament and Sumantra’s Consolation

Sītā’s Fearless Forest-Life

Devanagari script

बाष्पवेगोपहतया स वाचा सज्जमानया।इदमाश्वासयन्देवीं सूतः प्राञ्जलिरब्रवीत्।।।।

Transliteration

bāṣpavegopahatayā sa vācā sajjamānayā |

idam āśvāsayan devīṃ sūtaḥ prāñjalir abravīt ||

Translation

Da sprach der Wagenlenker, die Hände ehrfürchtig gefaltet, um die Königin zu trösten; seine Stimme stockte, vom Strom der Tränen erstickt.

Word by Word

• bāṣpavegopahatayā: hindered by the rush of tears
• bāṣpavegopahatayā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bāṣpa-vega (प्रातिपदिक) + upahata (उप + han धातु + क्त)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa: bāṣpavegena upahatā; Strīlinga, Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Singular; qualifying vācā

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumlinga, Nominative, Singular

• vācā: with speech/voice
• vācā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāc (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīlinga, Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Singular

• sajjamānayā: faltering
• sajjamānayā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sajj (धातु) + śānac (शानच्) → sajjamāna (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Present middle participle (शानच्), Strīlinga, Instrumental singular; qualifying vācā

• idam: this
• idam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular; object of abravīt (what was said)

• āśvāsayan: comforting
• āśvāsayan: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā + śvas (धातु) + ṇic (णिच्, causative) + śatṛ (शतृ) → āśvāsayat (कृदन्त)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ), Pumlinga, Nominative singular; causative sense 'comforting'

• devīm: the queen
• devīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīlinga, Accusative, Singular

• sūtaḥ: the charioteer
• sūtaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sūta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumlinga, Nominative, Singular

• prāñjaliḥ: with folded hands
• prāñjaliḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prāñjali (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumlinga, Nominative, Singular; adjective of sūtaḥ; 'with joined palms'

• abravīt: said
• abravīt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: brū (धातु)
• Form: Luṅ (Aorist), Parasmaipada, Prathama-puruṣa, Singular

Context

Though in the forest, Sita, under the protection of Rama's arms, is afraid of neither elephants nor lions nor tigers.

Characters & Entities

• Sumantra
• Kausalya

FAQs

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

It presents compassionate duty: Sumantra performs his dharma as a loyal attendant by offering respectful consolation, even while sharing the sorrow.

What is the narrative situation?

The narration introduces Sumantra’s attempt to calm Kausalya, describing his emotional state and respectful posture before he begins speaking.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Empathy and service-mindedness—Sumantra’s humility (folded hands) and shared grief while still fulfilling his role.