Shloka 26

सीतया लक्ष्मणप्रेषणम् — Sita urges Lakshmana to seek Rama

The crisis of the ‘distressed voice’

Devanagari script

समक्षं तव सौमित्रे प्राणांस्त्यक्षे न संशयः।रामं विना क्षणमपि न हि जीवामि भूतले।।3.45.26।।

Transliteration

samakṣaṃ tava saumitre prāṇāṃs tyakṣye na saṃśayaḥ |

rāmaṃ vinā kṣaṇam api na hi jīvāmi bhūtale || 3.45.26 ||

Translation

സൗമിത്രേ, നിന്റെ മുമ്പിൽ തന്നേ ഞാൻ പ്രാണം ത്യജിക്കും—ഇതിൽ സംശയമില്ല. രാമനില്ലാതെ ഭൂമിയിൽ ഞാൻ ഒരു ക്ഷണവും ജീവിക്കില്ല.

Word by Word

• समक्षम्: in the presence (of), before
• समक्षम्: अधिकरण (locative sense; place/circumstance)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: समक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रियाविशेषणम्/देशवाचकम्) — indeclinable adverb meaning 'in the presence (of)'

• तव: your, of you
• तव: सम्बन्ध (genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्तिः (Genitive), एकवचनम्; सर्वनाम (2nd person) — 'of you/your'

• सौमित्रे: O Saumitri (Lakṣmaṇa)
• सौमित्रे: सम्बोधन (address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सौमित्रि (प्रातिपदिक; सुमित्रा-अपत्यं)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, सम्बोधन-विभक्तिः (Vocative), एकवचनम् — संबोधनम्

• प्राणान्: life-breaths, life
• प्राणान्: कर्म (object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (Accusative), बहुवचनम् — कर्मपदम्

• त्यक्षे: I will give up (abandon)
• त्यक्षे: कर्ता (agent)
• Type: Verb
• Root: त्यज् (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकारः (Simple Future), उत्तमपुरुषः (1st person), एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम् — 'I shall abandon/give up'

• न: not, no
• न: निषेध (negation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (निपात/अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (निषेध-निपातः) — negation particle

• संशयः: doubt
• संशयः: कर्ता/विषय (subject of nominal clause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संशय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (Nominative), एकवचनम् — विधेय/उक्तिविषयः

• रामम्: Rama
• रामम्: अपादान (separation; with 'vinā' = without)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (Accusative), एकवचनम् — 'रामम्' (object with vinā)

• विना: without
• विना: अपादान-सम्बन्धसूचक (marker of separation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विना (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (उपपद/पूर्वपद-निषेधार्थकः) — governs accusative; meaning 'without, except'

• क्षणम्: a moment
• क्षणम्: कर्म (measure of time/duration)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (Accusative), एकवचनम् — कालपरिमाणम् (duration as object/measure)

• अपि: even, also
• अपि: अवधारण (emphasis/limitation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (समुच्चय/अवधारण/अपवादार्थकः; here = 'even')

• न: not
• न: निषेध (negation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (निपात/अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (निषेध-निपातः) — negation particle

• हि: indeed, surely
• हि: निपात (discourse/emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (निपातः; हेत्वर्थ/निश्चयार्थ/बलार्थकः) — here emphatic/assuring particle

• जीवामि: I live
• जीवामि: कर्ता (agent)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जीव् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकारः (Present), उत्तमपुरुषः (1st person), एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम् — 'I live'

• भूतले: on the earth, on the ground
• भूतले: अधिकरण (location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूतल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः (Locative), एकवचनम् — अधिकरणम्

Context

O Lakshmana such intention of yours or even of Bharata's will not be fulfilled. I have held the hands of Rama who has eyes like the lotus petal, who has the complexion of the blue lotus. How can I prefer some other man?

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Lakṣmaṇa (Saumitrī)
• Rāma
• bhūtala (earth)

FAQs

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

It underscores steadfast commitment: Sītā frames her bond with Rāma as life-defining, expressing the intensity of spousal fidelity in dharmic terms.

What is the narrative situation?

In desperation, Sītā declares she will die if separated from Rāma, heightening the pressure on Lakṣmaṇa.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Single-minded devotion (ananyatā) toward Rāma, expressed as an uncompromising vow.