Shloka 107

पम्पा

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

Devanagari script

या मामनुगता मन्दं पित्रा प्रव्राजितं वनम्। सीता सत्पथमास्थाय क्व नु सा वर्तते प्रिया।।4.1.107।।

Transliteration

yā māmanugatā mandaṃ pitrā pravrājitaṃ vanam | sītā satpatham āsthāya kva nu sā vartate priyā ||

Translation

父により森へ追われた不運の我に従い、正しき道を選び取ったシーター——いま、我が愛しき者はどこに在るのか。

Word by Word

• yā: she who
• yā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• mām: me
• mām: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• anugatā: followed
• anugatā: Kriyā (क्रिया/Relative clause predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anu-√gam (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); past participle; agrees with 'yā'

• mandam: wretched, unfortunate
• mandam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: manda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with 'mām' as epithet

• pitrā: by (my) father
• pitrā: Kartr̥ (कर्ता/Agent in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• pravrājitam: banished
• pravrājitam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pra-√vraj (धातु) + णिच् (causative) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with 'mām'; 'banished'

• vanam: to the forest
• vanam: Gati/Karma (गति/कर्म; Destination)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); goal of motion (to forest)

• sītā: Sītā
• sītā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sītā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); in apposition to 'yā'

• satpatham: the righteous path
• satpatham: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sat (प्रातिपदिक) + patha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); karmadhāraya: 'good/righteous path'

• āsthāya: having taken to
• āsthāya: Kriyā (क्रिया/Non-finite verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√sthā (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा/ल्यप्)

• kva: where
• kva: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Interrogative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kva (अव्यय)
• Form: Interrogative adverb (प्रश्नवाचक अव्यय)

• nu: now/indeed (question)
• nu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nu (अव्यय)
• Form: Interrogative particle (निपात)

• sā: she
• sā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• vartate: is, exists, stays
• vartate: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vṛt (धातु)
• Form: Lakāra: Laṭ (लट्/Present), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd person/प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); Ātmanepada

• priyā: beloved
• priyā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: priyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with 'sā/sītā'

Characters & Entities

• Sita
• Rama’s father (Dasharatha—implied by pitrā)
• forest (vana)

FAQs

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

The verse foregrounds satpatha—choosing the righteous course even in hardship; Sita’s decision to accompany Rama models dharma rooted in loyalty and moral courage.

What is the narrative situation?

Rama recalls Sita’s choice to follow him into exile and contrasts that devotion with the present uncertainty of her whereabouts.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sita’s steadfastness and righteousness (satpatha-niṣṭhā), shown in her voluntary sharing of exile.