Shloka 11

शरत्प्रवेशे रामविलापः तथा सुग्रीवप्रमादे लक्ष्मणप्रेषणम्

Autumn’s Onset: Rama’s Lament and Lakshmana Sent to Sugriva

Devanagari script

सरांसि सरितो वापीः काननानि वनानि च।तां विना मृगशाबाक्षीं चरन्नाद्य सुखं लभे।।

Transliteration

sarāṃsi sarito vāpīḥ kānanāni vanāni ca |

tāṃ vinā mṛgaśābākṣīṃ carann adya sukhaṃ labhe ||4.30.11||

Translation

Auch wenn ich durch Seen, Flüsse, Brunnen, Haine und Wälder wandere, finde ich heute ohne sie — die Frau mit den Augen eines Rehkitzes — kein Glück.

Word by Word

• sarāṃsi: lakes
• sarāṃsi: Karma (कर्म; objects of ‘wander’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saras (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), Prathamā (Nominative/1st), Bahuvacana

• saritaḥ: rivers
• saritaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarit (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana (Vedic/epic nominative plural form saritaḥ)

• vāpīḥ: ponds/wells
• vāpīḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāpī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana

• kānanāni: woods
• kānanāni: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kānana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Prathamā, Bahuvacana

• vanāni: forests
• vanāni: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Prathamā, Bahuvacana

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction particle (समुच्चय-अव्यय)

• tām: her
• tām: Apādāna/Viṣaya (विषय; with vinā)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā (Accusative/2nd), Ekavacana

• vinā: without
• vinā: Apādāna (अपादान; separation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vinā (अव्यय)
• Form: Prepositional indeclinable (upapada) meaning ‘without’; governs accusative

• mṛgaśābākṣīm: the fawn-eyed lady
• mṛgaśābākṣīm: Apādāna/Viṣaya (विषय; apposition to tām with vinā)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mṛgaśāba + akṣī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; bahuvrīhi: ‘she whose eyes are like a fawn’s’

• caran: wandering
• caran: Kartṛ-viśeṣaṇa (कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √car (धातु)
• Form: Śatṛ present active participle, Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; agrees with implied ‘aham’

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध-अव्यय)

• adya: today/now
• adya: Kālādhi karaṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: adya (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb of time (काल-अव्यय)

• sukham: happiness/comfort
• sukham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Dvitīyā (Accusative/2nd), Ekavacana

• labhe: I obtain
• labhe: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √labh (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (Present), Ātmanepada, Uttama-puruṣa (1st person), Ekavacana

Context

'Even though I am wandering by lakes, rivers, wells, forests and groves,I am not happy without that fawn-eyed lady.

Characters & Entities

• Sītā (by epithet mṛgaśābākṣī)
• lakes
• rivers
• forests

FAQs

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

The verse affirms the sanctity of loyal relationship: worldly beauty cannot replace dharmic companionship; love aligned with truth (satya) remains centered on the person, not pleasures.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma continues lamenting in autumn; even nature’s abundance cannot console him without Sītā.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Constancy (niṣṭhā) in love and commitment—Rāma’s mind does not drift from his dharmic bond.