Shloka 28

सीतान्वेषणविलापः

Rama’s Lament and Search for Sita

Devanagari script

पीतकौशेयकेनासि सूचिता वरवर्णिनि।धावन्त्यपि मया दृष्टा तिष्ठ यद्यस्ति सौहृदम्।।3.60.28।।

Transliteration

pītakauśeyakenāsi sūcitā varavarṇini | dhāvanty api mayā dṛṣṭā tiṣṭha yady asti sauhṛdam || 3.60.28 ||

Translation

Ô dame au teint ravissant, ta soie jaune te trahit ; je t'ai vue même alors que tu courais. Arrête-toi, si tu as de l'affection pour moi.

Word by Word

• पीतकौशेयकेन: by the yellow silk (garment)
• पीतकौशेयकेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pīta + kauśeyaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (पीतं कौशेयकम्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन (Neuter, Instrumental singular)

• असि: you are
• असि: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन (2nd person singular)

• सूचिता: indicated, revealed
• सूचिता: Kriyā (क्रिया; predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sūcita (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (PPP), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (Feminine, Nominative singular)

• वरवर्णिनि: O lovely-complexioned lady
• वरवर्णिनि: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vara + varṇinī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (वरा वर्णिनी), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन (Vocative singular)

• धावन्ती: running
• धावन्ती: Kartṛviśeṣaṇa (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dhāv (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शतृ/शानच्-समकक्ष स्त्रीलिङ्ग वर्तमानकृदन्त (present active participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (Feminine, Nominative singular)

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध; emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; अपि = even/also (particle)

• मया: by me
• मया: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, तृतीया, एकवचन (Instrumental singular)

• दृष्टा: seen
• दृष्टा: Kriyā (क्रिया; predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (PPP), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (Nominative singular)

• तिष्ठ: stop
• तिष्ठ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sthā (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन (2nd person singular)

• यदि: if
• यदि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yadi (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; शर्तार्थक (if)

• अस्ति: there is
• अस्ति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन (3rd person singular)

• सौहृदम्: affection, friendship
• सौहृदम्: Kartā (कर्ता; 'affection' as subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sauhṛda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (Neuter, Nominative singular)

Context

O lady of lovely complexion, I can see your yellow silk (flying), while you are running away. If you have love for me, stay on.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Sītā (implied)

FAQs

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

Dharma is framed as mutual loyalty (sauhṛda) sustaining a righteous household—Rāma appeals to the moral bond of love as a reason to remain and respond truthfully.

What is the narrative situation?

Still imagining Sītā nearby, Rāma claims he can trace her by the yellow silk and implores her to stop.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Hopeful persistence: even in despair, he searches for signs and continues calling out, refusing to give up.