Shloka 1

अरण्यकाण्डे एकोनषष्टितमः सर्गः

Maricha’s Mimic Cry and the Rama–Lakshmana–Sita Confrontation

Devanagari script

अथाश्रमादुपावृत्तमन्तरा रघुनन्दनः।परिपप्रच्छ सौमित्रिं रामो दुःखार्दितं पुनः।।।।

Transliteration

athāśramād upāvṛttam antarā raghunandanaḥ |

paripapraccha saumitriṃ rāmo duḥkhārditaṃ punaḥ ||

Translation

Alors Rāma, joie de la lignée de Raghu, accablé de chagrin, interrogea de nouveau Saumitri (Lakshmana) lorsqu’il revint de l’āśrama.

Word by Word

• अथ: then
• अथ: सम्बन्ध/प्रकरण-निर्देशक (discourse connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; अनुक्रमसूचक/समयानुक्रमे (sequencing particle: 'then')

• आश्रमात्: from the hermitage
• आश्रमात्: अपादान (source/point of departure)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आश्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; पञ्चमी-विभक्ति; एकवचन (ablative singular: 'from the hermitage')

• उपावृत्तम्: returned
• उपावृत्तम्: कर्म-विशेषण (object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उप-आ-वृत् (धातु) → उपावृत्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति; एकवचन; (returned, having come back) — 'रघुनन्दनम्/रामम्' इति कर्मपदं विशेषयति

• अन्तरा: in between / on the way
• अन्तरा: अधिकरण (locative sense: in the midst/on the way)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन्तरा (अव्यय/उपसर्गार्थक)
• Form: अव्ययम्; देश/कालवाचकं (adverb/preposition-like: 'in between, on the way')

• रघुनन्दनः: delight of the Raghus (Rama)
• रघुनन्दनः: कर्ता (agent/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रघु + नन्दन (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति; एकवचन (nominative singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: रघूणां नन्दनः (delight/son of the Raghus)

• परिपप्रच्छ: asked / questioned
• परिपप्रच्छ: क्रिया (verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि-प्रच्छ् (धातु) → पप्रच्छ (लिट्-रूपम्)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्शभूत/परफेक्ट); प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपदम् (he asked)

• सौमित्रिम्: Lakshmana
• सौमित्रिम्: कर्म (object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सौमित्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति; एकवचन (accusative singular: Lakshmana, son of Sumitra)

• रामः: Rama
• रामः: कर्ता (agent/subject; appositional)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति; एकवचन (nominative singular); कर्तृपदं (apposition to रघुनन्दनः)

• दुःखार्दितम्: afflicted by sorrow
• दुःखार्दितम्: कर्म-विशेषण (object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुःख + आर्दित (कृदन्त; समास)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त) 'आर्दित' (पीडित); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति; एकवचन; कर्मपदं 'सौमित्रिम्' विशेषयति; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: दुःखेन आर्दितः (afflicted by sorrow)

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: क्रियाविशेषण (adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; पुनरावृत्तिवाचक क्रियाविशेषणम् (adverb: 'again')

Context

Rama, the delight of the Raghus, once again questioned Lakshmana who had come out of the hermitage, deeply hurt:

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Lakshmana (Saumitri)
• Hermitage (Ashrama)
• Raghu lineage

FAQs

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

Dharma here appears as perseverance in crisis: even in grief, Rama continues inquiry and action rather than surrendering to despair.

What is the narrative situation?

A transition moment: Lakshmana comes back from the hermitage area, and Rama urgently questions him again while searching for Sita.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Steadfastness under suffering—Rama’s leadership persists despite emotional devastation.