Shloka 20

शरत्प्रवेशे रामविलापः तथा सुग्रीवप्रमादे लक्ष्मणप्रेषणम्

Autumn’s Onset: Rama’s Lament and Lakshmana Sent to Sugriva

Devanagari script

निस्संशयं कार्यमवेक्षितव्यंक्रियाविशेषोऽह्यनुवर्तितव्यः।ननु प्रवृत्तस्य दुरासदस्यकुमार कार्यस्य फलं च चिन्त्यम्।।

Transliteration

nissaṁśayaṁ kāryam avekṣitavyaṁ kriyāviśeṣo hy anuvartitavyaḥ | nanu pravṛttasya durāsadasya kumāra kāryasya phalaṁ ca cintyam ||

Translation

Bien-aimé, sans nul doute l’œuvre doit être examinée et poursuivie avec un soin particulier. Et lorsqu’une entreprise si redoutable est engagée, il faut aussi en méditer le fruit.

Word by Word

• nissaṁśayam: undoubtedly
• nissaṁśayam: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nis-saṁśaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb): 'संशयम् विना'

• kāryam: the task
• kāryam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kārya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; here as object of obligation with -tavya (to be considered)

• avekṣitavyam: should be examined
• avekṣitavyam: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ava-√īkṣ (ईक्ष्) (धातु)
• Form: तव्यत्-कृदन्त (gerundive/obligative), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; 'अवेक्षितव्यम्' = should be examined/considered

• kriyā-viśeṣaḥ: a special action/effort
• kriyā-viśeṣaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kriyā (प्रातिपदिक) + viśeṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: 'क्रियायाः विशेषः' (a special procedure/effort)

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), हेत्वर्थ/निश्चयार्थ

• anuvartitavyaḥ: should be followed
• anuvartitavyaḥ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: anu-√vṛt (वृत्) (धातु)
• Form: तव्यत्-कृदन्त (gerundive), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; 'अनुवर्तितव्यः' = should be followed/carried out

• nanu: surely
• nanu: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nanu (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle) emphasizing assertion/question: 'surely/indeed'

• pravṛttasya: of the undertaken
• pravṛttasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pra-√vṛt (वृत्) (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (past participle): 'प्रवृत्त' = commenced/undertaken; qualifying kāryasya

• durāsadasya: of the hard-to-accomplish
• durāsadasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dur-āsada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; कर्मधारय: 'दुर् + आसद' (hard to approach/assail); qualifying kāryasya

• kumāra: O prince
• kumāra: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kumāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन

• kāryasya: of the task
• kāryasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kārya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• phalam: result
• phalam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: phala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; object with cintyam (to be thought about)

• ca: also
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय

• cintyam: should be considered
• cintyam: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √cint (चिन्त्) (धातु)
• Form: तव्यत्/यत्-कृदन्त (gerundive), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; 'चिन्त्यम्' = should be considered

Context

'My dear, there is no doubt that I have to consider the work (ahead), give special attention to follow up. Surely I need to think over this herculian task and its achievement'.

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Lakshmana

FAQs

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

Dharma includes accountability: one must not only begin a righteous task but also monitor its execution and consider its consequences and completion.

What is the narrative situation?

Rama, facing delay in Sugriva’s promised help, emphasizes careful oversight and strategic follow-through for the mission to recover Sita.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Prudent leadership—attention to implementation, results, and responsibility for outcomes.