Shloka 20

सीतान्वेषणारम्भः

The Search for Sita Begins

Devanagari script

तौ वनानि गिरींश्चैव सरितश्च सरांसि च।।।।निखिलेन विचिन्वानौ सीतां दशरथात्मजौ।

Transliteration

tau vanāni girīṁś caiva saritaś ca sarāṁsi ca |

nikhilena vicinvānau sītāṁ daśarathātmajau ||3.61.20||

Translation

ダシャラタの二人の御子は、森と山、川と池をことごとく巡り、悉く調べ尽くしてシーターを探し求めた。

Word by Word

• tau: those two
• tau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक; सर्वनाम)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

• vanāni: forests
• vanāni: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Plural

• girīn: mountains
• girīn: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: giri (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• eva: indeed
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (emphasis)

• saritaḥ: rivers
• saritaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarit (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Plural

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• sarāṃsi: lakes/ponds
• sarāṃsi: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saras (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Plural

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• nikhilena: completely
• nikhilena: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nikhila (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adverbial instrumental (क्रियाविशेषणरूपे तृतीया) ‘entirely/wholly’

• vicinvānau: searching
• vicinvānau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-√ci (धातु) + śatṛ
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ), Masculine, Nominative, Dual; ‘searching’

• sītām: Sītā
• sītām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sītā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• daśarathātmajau: the two sons of Daśaratha
• daśarathātmajau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daśaratha (प्रातिपदिक) + ātmaja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual; तत्पुरुष ‘sons of Daśaratha’

Context

The two sons of Dasaratha went on searching for Sita in forests, mountains, rivers, ponds everywhere.

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Lakshmana
• Sita
• Dasaratha
• Forests
• Mountains
• Rivers
• Ponds

FAQs

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

Dharma is thoroughness and perseverance in duty: the brothers’ search is comprehensive, reflecting unwavering commitment to protect and restore what is right.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa actively search across multiple terrains—forests, mountains, rivers, and ponds—for the missing Sītā.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Determination and teamwork—both brothers act together with sustained effort.