Shloka 109

पम्पा

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

Devanagari script

तच्चार्वञ्चितपद्माक्षं सुगन्धि शुभमव्रणम्।अपश्यतो मुखं तस्यास्सीदतीव मनो मम।।।।

Transliteration

tac cārv-añcita-padmākṣaṃ sugandhi śubham avraṇam | apaśyato mukhaṃ tasyāḥ sīdatīva mano mama ||

Translation

Ne voyant pas son visage—charmant, aux yeux de lotus, parfumé, de bon augure et sans tache—mon esprit s’abîme dans une profonde affliction.

Word by Word

• tat: that
• tat: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); refers to 'mukham' (face)

• cāru: beautiful
• cāru: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: cāru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with 'mukham'

• añcita-padmākṣam: (with) gracefully curved lotus-like eyes
• añcita-padmākṣam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: añcita (कृदन्त; √añc (धातु) + क्त) + padmākṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with 'mukham'; tatpuruṣa: 'lotus-eyed (padmākṣa) with (beautifully) curved/marked (añcita)'

• sugandhi: fragrant
• sugandhi: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sugandhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with 'mukham'

• śubham: auspicious, lovely
• śubham: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śubha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with 'mukham'

• avraṇam: blemishless
• avraṇam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: avraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with 'mukham'

• apaśyataḥ: while (I am) not seeing
• apaśyataḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Circumstantial)
• Type: Verb
• Root: a-√paś (धातु)
• Form: Present participle (शतृ) in Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन); 'of me not seeing' (genitive absolute-like)

• mukham: face
• mukham: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• tasyāḥ: of her
• tasyāḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठī), Singular (एकवचन)

• sīdati: sinks, droops, is distressed
• sīdati: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √sad (धातु)
• Form: Lakāra: Laṭ (लट्/Present), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd person/प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); Parasmaipada

• iva: as if
• iva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Comparator)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Comparison particle (उपमा-वाचक)

• manaḥ: mind
• manaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• mama: my
• mama: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

Context

'Unable to see her beautiful, face with auspicious eyes like fragrant lotuses, I feel (so) depressed.

Characters & Entities

• Sita

FAQs

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

The verse frames love as reverent remembrance rather than possession; such remembrance supports dharma by keeping one’s commitments and motivations pure even in suffering.

What is the narrative situation?

Rama, separated from Sita, describes how the absence of her presence and sight overwhelms his mind.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rama’s constancy (steadfast attachment to rightful relationship) and deep empathy.