Shloka 38

गोदावरीतटे सीतान्वेषणम्

The Search for Sītā at the Godāvarī

Devanagari script

स समीक्ष्य परिक्रान्तं सीताया राक्षसस्य च।।3.64.37।।भग्नं धनुश्च तूणी च विकीर्णं बहुधा रथम्।सम्भ्रान्तहृदयो रामश्शशंस भ्रातरंप्रियम्।।3.64.38।।

Transliteration

bhagnaṃ dhanuś ca tūṇī ca vikīrṇaṃ bahudhā ratham | sambhrāntahṛdayo rāmaḥ śaśaṃsa bhrātaraṃ priyam || 3.64.38 ||

Translation

તૂટેલું ધનુષ અને તૂણિર, તથા રથ અનેક ભાગોમાં ભંગાઈ વિખેરાયેલો જોઈ, હૃદયે વ્યાકુળ થયેલા રામે પોતાના પ્રિય ભાઈ (લક્ષ્મણ)ને કહ્યું.

Word by Word

• taptabindunikāśaiḥ: with (drops) like heated/golden drops
• taptabindunikāśaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tapta + bindu + nikāśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa: tapta-bindu-nikāśa = 'like heated drops (gold-like)'; Puṃliṅga/Napuṃsaka? here Instrumental plural agreeing with kṣatajabindubhiḥ by sense; Tṛtīyā vibhakti (3rd), Bahuvacana

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya-avyaya

• citraiḥ: variegated
• citraiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: citra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga/Napuṃsaka, Tṛtīyā, Bahuvacana; viśeṣaṇa of kṣatajabindubhiḥ

• kṣatajabindubhiḥ: with drops of blood
• kṣatajabindubhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṣataja + bindu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa: kṣataja-bindu = 'blood-drops'; Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā vibhakti (3rd), Bahuvacana

• āvṛtam: covered
• āvṛtam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ā + vṛ (धातु)
• Form: Upasarga: ā-; Bhūta-kṛdanta (क्त), Napuṃsakalिङ्ग, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; viśeṣaṇa of dharaṇītalam

• paśya: see
• paśya: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: paś (धातु)
• Form: Loṭ (imperative), Madhyama-puruṣa, Ekavacana, Parasmaipada

• saumitre: O Saumitra
• saumitre: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saumitra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Sambodhana, Ekavacana

• sarvataḥ: everywhere
• sarvataḥ: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sarvataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Deśa-avyaya (adverb: 'on all sides')

• dharaṇītalam: ground/earth-surface
• dharaṇītalam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharaṇī + tala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa: dharaṇī-tala = 'surface of the earth'; Napuṃsakalिङ्ग, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

Context

O Saumitri ! see the many broken bits of gold ornaments and garlands.

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Lakshmana
• Bow
• Quiver
• Chariot

FAQs

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

Dharma is shared duty: in calamity, Rāma immediately turns to coordinated action with Lakṣmaṇa, upholding responsibility toward Sītā through collective effort.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa arrive at a disturbed scene—broken weapons and a shattered chariot—suggesting violent struggle connected to Sītā’s abduction.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Brotherly reliance and leadership: Rāma, though shaken, initiates communication and directs attention to the evidence.