Shloka 38

पम्पा

तीर-वर्णनम् / Rama’s Lament at Pampa and the Approach to Rishyamuka

Devanagari script

पश्य लक्ष्मण नृत्यन्तं मयूरमुपनृत्यति।शिखिनी मन्मथार्तैषा भर्तारं गिरिसानुनि।।।।

Transliteration

paśya lakṣmaṇa nṛtyantaṃ mayūram upanṛtyati |

śikhinī manmathārtaiṣā bhartāraṃ giri-sānuni ||

Translation

Sieh, Lakṣmaṇa: am Berghang tanzt diese Pfauenhenne, von Liebespein getroffen, dicht beim tanzenden Pfau—ihrem Gatten entgegen.

Word by Word

• paśya: look
• paśya: Preraka (Injunction/प्रेरक)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √paś (धातु)
• Form: Loṭ lakāra (Imperative/लोट्), Madhyama puruṣa (2nd person/मध्यम), Ekavacana

• lakṣmaṇa: O Lakshmana
• lakṣmaṇa: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lakṣmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Sambodhana (Vocative/सम्बोधन), Ekavacana

• nṛtyantam: dancing
• nṛtyantam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √nṛt (धातु) + śatṛ (शतृ)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ), Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā vibhakti (Accusative/द्वितीया), Ekavacana; qualifying 'mayūram'

• mayūram: the peacock
• mayūram: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mayūra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā (Accusative), Ekavacana

• upanṛtyati: dances along / dances near
• upanṛtyati: Kriyā (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: upa-√nṛt (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ lakāra (Present/लट्), Prathama puruṣa (3rd person/प्रथम), Ekavacana

• śikhinī: the peahen
• śikhinī: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śikhinī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā (Nominative), Ekavacana

• manmatha-ārtā: afflicted by love
• manmatha-ārtā: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: manmatha (प्रातिपदिक) + ārta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa compound; Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; qualifying 'śikhinī'

• eṣā: this (she)
• eṣā: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• bhartāram: (her) mate/husband
• bhartāram: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhartṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā (Accusative), Ekavacana

• giri-sānuni: on the mountain-slope
• giri-sānuni: Adhikaraṇa (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: giri (प्रातिपदिक) + sānū (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa compound; Napuṃsakaliṅga (neuter/नपुंसकलिङ्ग) or Puṃliṅga by usage of sānū; Saptamī vibhakti (Locative/सप्तमी), Ekavacana

Context

'Look at the lovelorn peahen, excited by love, dancing on the moutain slope, O Lakshmana! Engrossed in love, she dances for wooing the peacock.

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Lakshmana
• peacock
• mountain slope (giri-sānu)

FAQs

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

The verse implicitly affirms rightful companionship and fidelity: even in animal imagery, pairing with one’s mate is presented as natural order, sharpening the injustice of Sītā’s separation.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma points out a peahen courting her mate; the scene contrasts with his own loss of Sītā and intensifies his resolve to restore what is right.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Commitment to relational duty: Rāma’s attention returns to the dharmic ideal of spousehood, reinforcing his protective responsibility.