Shloka 66

पम्पा

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

Devanagari script

पद्मपत्रविशालाक्षीं सततं पङ्कजप्रियाम्।अपश्यतो मे वैदेहीं जीवितं नाभिरोचते।।।।

Transliteration

padmapatraviśālākṣīṃ satataṃ paṅkajapriyām | apaśyato me vaidehīṃ jīvitaṃ nābhirocate ||

Translation

Wenn ich Vaidehī nicht erblicke — die mit den weiten Augen wie Lotosblätter, die stets den Lotos liebte — dann gefällt mir selbst das Leben nicht mehr.

Word by Word

• padmapatraviśālākṣīm: Vaidehi, large-eyed like lotus petals
• padmapatraviśālākṣīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: padma + patra + viśāla + akṣi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि (padmapatra-sadṛśe viśāle akṣiṇī yasyāḥ) = ‘she whose eyes are large like lotus-petals’; qualifies "vaidehīm"

• satatam: always
• satatam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: satatam (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण

• paṅkajapriyām: fond of lotuses
• paṅkajapriyām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: paṅkaja + priya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (paṅkajānāṃ priyā) qualifying "vaidehīm"

• apaśyataḥ: (because) I do not see
• apaśyataḥ: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Verb
• Root: a-√paś/√dṛś (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ) in genitive; षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘of me not seeing’ (genitive absolute/causal genitive)

• me: my / to me
• me: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; enclitic pronoun

• vaidehīm: Vaidehi (Sita)
• vaidehīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaidehī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

• jīvitam: life
• jīvitam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jīvita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध (negation particle)

• abhirocate: is pleasing, is desired
• abhirocate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi-√ruc (धातु)
• Form: लट्, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; impersonal sense ‘is pleasing’

Context

'Unable to see my beloved with eyes large like totus petals and an ardent lover of lotuses, I have no desire to live.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa
• Sītā (Vaidehī)

FAQs

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

The verse reflects dharma of marital fidelity and emotional truth (satya): Rāma does not mask his pain, and his unwavering devotion to Sītā is presented as a righteous constancy.

What is the narrative situation?

Amid Pampā’s beauty, Rāma’s mind turns inward; the scenery triggers remembrance of Sītā and intensifies his sorrow during the search.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Single-hearted loyalty (ekapatnī-vrata in spirit): Rāma’s exclusive devotion to Sītā and the sincerity of his attachment.