Shloka 19

शरत्प्रवेशे रामविलापः तथा सुग्रीवप्रमादे लक्ष्मणप्रेषणम्

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

Devanagari script

सलक्षणं लक्ष्मणमप्रधृष्यंस्वभावजं वाक्यमुवाच रामः।हितं च पथ्यं च नयप्रसक्तंससाम धर्मार्थसमाहितं च।।

Transliteration

salakṣaṇaṁ lakṣmaṇam apradhṛṣyaṁ svabhāvajaṁ vākyam uvāca rāmaḥ | hitaṁ ca pathyaṁ ca nayaprasaktaṁ sasāma dharmārthasamāhitaṁ ca ||

Translation

Da sprach Rāma zu Lakṣmaṇa, dem von glückverheißenden Zeichen Gezeichneten und Unbezwingbaren, Worte, die seiner Natur entsprachen: heilsam und zuträglich, der rechten Staatsklugheit gemäß, in der Weise versöhnlich und fest gegründet in Dharma und Artha.

Word by Word

• salakṣaṇam: of good marks
• salakṣaṇam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa-lakṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय: 'लक्षणैः सह/उत्तमलक्षणयुक्त'

• lakṣmaṇam: Lakshmana
• lakṣmaṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lakṣmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• apradhṛṣyam: unassailable
• apradhṛṣyam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-pradhṛṣya (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √dhṛṣ धृष्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; नञ्-समास/निषेध; 'प्रधर्षयितुं अशक्य' (unassailable)

• svabhāvajam: natural; innate
• svabhāvajam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: svabhāva (प्रातिपदिक) + ja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; पञ्चमी/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषार्थ: 'स्वभावात् जातम्' (born of nature)

• vākyam: words; speech
• vākyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vākya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (वच्) (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• rāmaḥ: Rama
• rāmaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• hitam: beneficial
• hitam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hita (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √dhā धा with hi- prefix in usage)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण (of vākyam)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय

• pathyam: wholesome; salutary
• pathyam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pathya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय

• naya-prasaktam: consistent with policy
• naya-prasaktam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: naya (प्रातिपदिक) + prasakta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √sañj/√saj सज्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: 'नये प्रसक्तम्' (grounded in policy)

• sasāma: conciliatory
• sasāma: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa-sāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय: 'सामयुक्त' (conciliatory)

• dharma-artha-samāhitam: aligned with dharma and artha
• dharma-artha-samāhitam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक) + samāhita (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √dhā धा with sam-ā-)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्व 'धर्मार्थौ' + तत्पुरुष: 'धर्मार्थयोः समाहितम्' (in accordance with dharma and artha)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय

Context

Rama said to Lakshmana, an unassailable warrior with auspicious signs, that what he had spoken was natural, beneficial, wise and useful.It is in accordance with Sama Veda and the science of state-craft, well established in dharma and artha.

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Lakshmana

FAQs

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

Dharma-guided leadership: even in crisis, speech and strategy should remain beneficial, measured, and grounded in dharma and practical welfare (artha).

What is the narrative situation?

Rama responds to Lakshmana’s counsel, affirming that the advice is both morally sound and politically prudent for pursuing Sita’s recovery.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rama’s discernment and restraint—valuing wise counsel and aligning emotion with ethical statecraft.