Shloka 19

अरण्यकाण्डे एकोनषष्टितमः सर्गः

Maricha’s Mimic Cry and the Rama–Lakshmana–Sita Confrontation

Devanagari script

रिपुः प्रच्छन्नचारी त्वं मदर्थमनुगच्छसि।राघवस्यान्तरप्रेप्सुस्तथैनं नाभिपद्यसे।।।।

Transliteration

ripuḥ pracchanna-cārī tvaṃ mad-artham anugacchasi | rāghavasyāntara-prepsus tathainaṃ nābhipadyase ||

Translation

നീ വേഷംമാറി സഞ്ചരിക്കുന്ന ശത്രുവാണ്; എന്റെ കാരണത്താൽ പിന്തുടരുന്നു. രാഘവനോടു വിരോധമായി ഒരു വിടവ് തേടുന്നതിനാൽ നീ ഇപ്പോൾ അവന്റെ അടുക്കൽ പോകുന്നില്ല.

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb

• उक्तः: addressed
• उक्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ukta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √vac)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative, Singular; ‘having been spoken to’

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle

• वैदेह्या: by Vaidehi
• वैदेह्या: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaidehī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3rd), Singular

• संरब्धः: agitated
• संरब्धः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: saṃrabdha (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; sam-√rabh)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; PPP used adjectivally

• रक्तलोचनः: red-eyed
• रक्तलोचनः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rakta + locana (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक + प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; karmadhāraya: ‘red (रक्त) eyes (लोचन)’

• क्रोधात्: from anger
• क्रोधात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: krodha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Ablative (5th), Singular

• प्रस्फुरमाणोष्ठः: with quivering lips
• प्रस्फुरमाणोष्ठः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prasphuramāṇa + oṣṭha (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक + प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; karmadhāraya: ‘lips (ओष्ठ) that are quivering (प्रस्फुरमाण, pres. part. of pra-√sphur)’

• आश्रमात्: from the hermitage
• आश्रमात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āśrama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Ablative (5th), Singular

• अभिनिर्गतः: came out
• अभिनिर्गतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi-nir-√gam (धातु)
• Form: Past active participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative, Singular; ‘having gone out’

Context

'You are an enemy moving in disguise with an interest in me. You are waiting for an opportunity to set aside Rama. That is why you are not rushing to him.'

Characters & Entities

• Sītā (Vaidehī)
• Lakṣmaṇa
• Rāma (Rāghava)

FAQs

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

The verse illustrates adharma through slander: accusing a loyal protector as an enemy violates satya and damages righteous relationships.

What is the narrative situation?

Sītā’s grief escalates into direct allegations that Lakṣmaṇa is secretly hostile to Rāma and motivated by desire for her.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

By implication, Lakṣmaṇa’s restraint and duty—he must maintain dharma despite being maligned.