Shloka 106

पम्पा

तीर-वर्णनम् / Rama’s Lament at Pampa and the Approach to Rishyamuka

Devanagari script

किन्नु वक्ष्यामि राजानं धर्मज्ञं सत्यवादिनम्।सीताया जनकं पृष्टः कुशलं जनसंसदि।।।।

Transliteration

kinnu vakṣyāmi rājānaṃ dharmajñaṃ satyavādinam | sītāyā janakaṃ pṛṣṭaḥ kuśalaṃ janasaṃsadi ||

Translation

Que pourrais-je dire si le roi Janaka—connaisseur du dharma et fidèle à la vérité—me demande, devant l’assemblée, des nouvelles du bien-être de Sītā ?

Word by Word

• kim: what
• kim: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Interrogative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kim (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Interrogative particle used idiomatically with 'nu' (किं = what?)

• nu: indeed/now (question particle)
• nu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nu (अव्यय)
• Form: Interrogative/emphatic particle (निपात)

• vakṣyāmi: shall I say
• vakṣyāmi: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (धातु)
• Form: Lakāra: Luṭ (लुट्/Periphrastic future), Uttama-puruṣa (1st person/उत्तमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); Parasmaipada

• rājānam: the king
• rājānam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• dharmajñam: knower of dharma
• dharmajñam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dharmajña (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with 'rājānam'

• satyavādinam: truth-speaking
• satyavādinam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: satyavādin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with 'rājānam'

• sītāyāḥ: of Sītā
• sītāyāḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sītā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• janakam: Janaka
• janakam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: janaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• pṛṣṭaḥ: being asked
• pṛṣṭaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √prach (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); past passive participle; refers to speaker 'I, when asked'

• kuśalam: welfare, well-being
• kuśalam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kuśala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); object of implied 'to tell/answer'

• janasaṃsadi: in the public assembly
• janasaṃsadi: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jana (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃsad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन); tatpuruṣa: 'assembly of people'

Context

'If righteous and truthful Janaka enquires about Sita's wellbeing in the assembly of people, what am I to speak ?

Characters & Entities

• Janaka
• Sita

FAQs

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

Accountability before the righteous: dharma requires that one’s actions and outcomes withstand scrutiny from truth-oriented elders; Rama feels the moral weight of answering Janaka publicly.

What is the narrative situation?

Rama anticipates the painful moment of having to report to Janaka about Sita, especially if questioned in a formal public setting.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Respect for truth and elders: Rama’s conscience is shaped by Janaka’s reputation for dharma and satya.