Shloka 54

गोदावरीतटे सीतान्वेषणम्

The Search for Sītā at the Godāvarī

Devanagari script

कर्तारमपि लोकानां शूरं करुणवेदिनम्।।।।अज्ञानादवमन्येरत्सर्वभूतानि लक्ष्मण।

Transliteration

kartāram api lokānāṃ śūraṃ karuṇavedinam | ajñānād avamanyeran sarvabhūtāni lakṣmaṇa ||

Translation

Lakṣmaṇa, par ignorance, tous les êtres peuvent en venir à mépriser jusqu’au Créateur des mondes—héroïque et compatissant—si l’on voit triompher une telle injustice.

Word by Word

• कर्तारम्: the doer/creator
• कर्तारम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन; कर्तृ-शब्दः (agent/creator)

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle), ‘even/also’

• लोकानाम्: of the worlds/people
• लोकानाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), बहुवचन

• शूरम्: heroic
• शूरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शूर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying कर्तारम्)

• करुणवेदिनम्: compassionate
• करुणवेदिनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: करुण + वेदिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (करुणायाः वेदिन् = one who feels compassion); विशेषणम्

• अज्ञानात्: from ignorance
• अज्ञानात्: Hetu/Apadana (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative), एकवचन; हेतौ (cause)

• अवमन्येरन्: would disrespect
• अवमन्येरन्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव + मन् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपदम्; ‘they would disrespect’

• सर्वभूतानि: all beings
• सर्वभूतानि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + भूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः (सर्वाणि भूतानि)

• लक्ष्मण: O Lakshmana
• लक्ष्मण: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्ष्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन

Context

O Lakshmana! even the compassionate and heroic Creator of the worlds will be disrespected by all beings, however ignorantly (if such things are allowed to happen).

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa
• sarvabhūta (all beings)

FAQs

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

Moral order must be seen to operate: when adharma appears unchecked, faith in righteous governance (even cosmic) is shaken—hence the duty to restore justice.

What is the narrative situation?

In grief and outrage, Rāma reflects that beings may lose reverence for the cosmic order if innocent suffering is allowed.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

A fierce commitment to justice grounded in compassion.