Shloka 40

सीतया लक्ष्मणप्रेषणम् — Sita urges Lakshmana to seek Rama

The crisis of the ‘distressed voice’

Devanagari script

तामार्तरूपां विमना रुदन्तीं सौमित्रिरालोक्य विशालनेत्राम्।आश्वासयामास न चैव भर्तु स्तं भ्रातरंकिञ्चिदुवाच सीता।।3.45.40।।

Transliteration

tām ārtarūpāṁ vimanāṁ rudantīṁ saumitrir ālokya viśālanetrām | āśvāsayāmāsa na caiva bhartuḥ taṁ bhrātaraṁ kiñcid uvāca sītā || 3.45.40 ||

Translation

വിശാലനേത്രയായ, ദീനാവസ്ഥയിൽ മനസ്സുതളർന്ന് കരയുന്ന സീതയെ കണ്ട സൗമിത്രി (ലക്ഷ്മണൻ) അവളെ ആശ്വസിപ്പിച്ചു; എങ്കിലും സീത ഭർത്താവിന്റെ സഹോദരനോട് പിന്നെ ഒന്നും പറഞ്ഞുില്ല.

Word by Word

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/quotative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरणार्थक अव्यय (quotative)

• lakṣmaṇam: Lakshmana
• lakṣmaṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lakṣmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• ākruśya: having cried out at
• ākruśya: Kriyā (क्रिया-पूर्वक)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā + kruś (धातु)
• Form: ल्यप्/क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), ‘having cried out/abused’

• sītā: Sita
• sītā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sītā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• duḥkha-samanvitā: filled with grief
• duḥkha-samanvitā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: duḥkha + samanvitā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तृतीया-तत्पुरुषसदृशः (sense: ‘endowed with sorrow’), विशेषण sītā-शब्दस्य

• pāṇibhyām: with (her) two hands
• pāṇibhyām: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāṇi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), द्विवचन (dual)

• rudatī: crying
• rudatī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: rud (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमान कृदन्त, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘crying’

• duḥkhāt: from grief
• duḥkhāt: Hetu (हेतु/cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: duḥkha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (Ablative), एकवचन; हेतौ (cause)

• udaram: belly
• udaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: udara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• prajaghāna: struck
• prajaghāna: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra + han (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• ha: indeed
• ha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ha (अव्यय)
• Form: स्मरण/वृत्तान्तसूचक अव्यय (emphatic particle)

Context

I think Rama's adversity is welcome to you. You do not have any love towards your brother. It is for this that you stand unconcerned instead of proceeding to help your brilliant brother.

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Lakṣmaṇa (Saumitrī)
• Rāma (as bhartṛ implied)

FAQs

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

Dharma is expressed as compassionate action and self-control: Lakṣmaṇa responds to harshness with consolation, not anger.

What is the narrative situation?

After Sītā’s outburst and grief, Lakṣmaṇa looks upon her misery and attempts to comfort her; she falls silent.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Lakṣmaṇa’s forbearance (kṣamā) and gentleness in crisis are emphasized.