Shloka 12

सीतान्वेषणविलापः

Rama’s Lament and Search for Sita

Devanagari script

अपि काचित्त्वया दृष्टा सा कदम्बप्रिया प्रिया।कदम्ब यदि जानीषे शंस सीतां शुभाननाम्।।3.60.12।।

Transliteration

api kācit tvayā dṛṣṭā sā kadamba-priyā priyā | kadamba yadi jānīṣe śaṃsa sītāṃ śubhānanām || 3.60.12 ||

Translation

Wahai pohon Kadamba, apakah engkau melihat kekasihku, yang gemar pada bunga kadamba? Jika engkau tahu, kabarkanlah kepadaku tentang Sītā, yang berwajah elok.

Word by Word

• snigdha-pallava-saṅkāśā: like glossy tender leaves
• snigdha-pallava-saṅkāśā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: snigdha + pallava + saṅkāśā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष/कर्मधारयार्थ: ‘snigdha-pallava-sadṛśī’

• pīta-kauśeya-vāsinī: wearing yellow silk
• pīta-kauśeya-vāsinī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pīta + kauśeya + vāsinī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘pītaṃ kauśeyaṃ vastraṃ yasyāḥ’

• śaṃsasva: tell (me)
• śaṃsasva: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śaṃs (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), आत्मनेपद, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन

• yadi: if
• yadi: Nimitta (निमित्त)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yadi (अव्यय)
• Form: शर्त-अव्यय

• vā: or
• vā: Vikalpa (विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय

• dṛṣṭā: seen
• dṛṣṭā: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dṛś (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• bilva: O Bilva (tree)
• bilva: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bilva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन विभक्ति, एकवचन (vocative; addressing the tree)

• bilva-upama-stanī: with bilva-like breasts
• bilva-upama-stanī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bilva + upama + stanī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘bilvopamau stanau yasyāḥ’

Context

O Bilva tree, tell me if you have seen a lady delicate like your tender leaf, dressed in yellow silk, a lady whose breasts are round like Bilva fruits.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Sītā

FAQs

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

Dharma appears as truth-seeking and reverent inquiry: Rāma seeks truthful knowledge by questioning even nature, treating the world as morally responsive and witness to right and wrong.

What is the narrative situation?

In his search, Rāma addresses forest trees as though they could testify to Sītā’s path after the abduction.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Single-minded fidelity—Rāma’s mind is fixed on Sītā alone, remembering her tastes and traits while searching.