Shloka 3

अरण्यकाण्डे एकोनषष्टितमः सर्गः

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

Devanagari script

दृष्ट्वैवाभ्यागतं त्वां मे मैथिलीं त्यज्य लक्ष्मण।शङ्कमानं महत्पापं यत्सत्यं व्यथितं मनः।।।।

Transliteration

dṛṣṭvaivābhyāgataṃ tvāṃ me maithilīṃ tyajya lakṣmaṇa |

śaṅkamānaṃ mahat pāpaṃ yat satyaṃ vyathitaṃ manaḥ ||

Translation

ലക്ഷ്മണാ! മൈഥിലിയെ വിട്ട് നീ മടങ്ങിവന്നതുകണ്ട നിമിഷം തന്നെ എന്റെ മനസ്സ് വിറച്ചു; ഭയങ്കരമായ പാപസന്ദേഹമത് സത്യമെന്നായി, ഹൃദയം വേദനിച്ചു.

Word by Word

• dṛṣṭvā: having seen
• dṛṣṭvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा), 'having seen'

• eva: indeed/just
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (निपात)

• abhyāgatam: come/arrived
• abhyāgatam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi√gam (धातु)
• Form: Past active participle (क्त), Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; qualifying tvām

• tvām: you
• tvām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Second person pronoun, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• me: my
• me: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: First person pronoun, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (enclitic)

• maithilīm: Maithili (Sita)
• maithilīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maithilī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• tyajya: having left
• tyajya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: tyaj (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यप्), 'having abandoned'

• lakṣmaṇa: O Lakshmana
• lakṣmaṇa: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lakṣmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular

• śaṅkamānam: doubting/suspecting
• śaṅkamānam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śaṅk (धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ), Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; qualifying manaḥ

• mahat: great
• mahat: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; qualifying pāpam

• pāpam: evil/sin
• pāpam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• yat: which/that
• yat: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd), Singular; relative pronoun introducing clause

• satyam: true
• satyam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: satya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd), Singular; predicative 'true'

• vyathitam: pained/distressed
• vyathitam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi√ath (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Neuter, Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd), Singular; qualifying manaḥ

• manaḥ: mind
• manaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

Context

I am not happy with you as you have come here deserting Sita on the plea that she was angry and spoke harsh words.

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Lakshmana
• Maithili (Sita)

FAQs

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

Dharma here centers on responsibility and vigilance: leaving Sītā unprotected violates the duty of guardianship, and Rama’s fear reflects the moral weight of that lapse.

What is the narrative situation?

Lakṣmaṇa returns to Rama without Sītā; Rama immediately suspects danger and feels his ominous doubts have come true.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rama’s truth-oriented discernment (satya-buddhi) and protective concern for Sītā are highlighted, even amid distress.