Shloka 18

सीतान्वेषणविलापः

Rama’s Lament and Search for Sita

Devanagari script

यदि ताल त्वया दृष्टा पक्वतालफलस्तनी।कथयस्व वरारोहां कारुण्यं यदि ते मयि।।3.60.18।।

Transliteration

yadi tāla tvayā dṛṣṭā pakva-tāla-phala-stanī | kathayasva varārohāṃ kāruṇyaṃ yadi te mayi || 3.60.18 ||

Translation

ഹേ താലവൃക്ഷമേ! പക്വമായ താലഫലങ്ങളെപ്പോലെ സ്തനങ്ങളുള്ള ആ വരാരോഹിണിയെ നീ കണ്ടിട്ടുണ്ടെങ്കിൽ, എനിക്കു കരുണ കാണിച്ച് ആ സുന്ദരിയുടെ വാർത്ത എനിക്കു പറയുക.

Word by Word

• यदि: if
• यदि: Condition marker (शर्त)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (शर्त/conditional particle)

• ताल: O palmyra tree
• ताल: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ताल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-प्रथमा, एकवचन

• त्वया: by you
• त्वया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण/3rd case), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• दृष्टा: seen
• दृष्टा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय; PPP), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; (सा) इति अध्याहारः

• पक्वतालफलस्तनी: she whose breasts are like ripe palmyra fruits
• पक्वतालफलस्तनी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पक्व-ताल-फल-स्तनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि (पक्वतालफलवत् स्तनौ यस्याः), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (सा/वरारोहाम्)

• कथयस्व: tell
• कथयस्व: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कथय् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार, आत्मनेपद, मध्यम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• वरारोहाम्: the fair-limbed lady
• वरारोहाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वरारोहा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय (वरा च सा आरोहा च), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• कारुण्यम्: compassion
• कारुण्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कारुण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; (कृपाम्)

• यदि: if
• यदि: Condition marker (शर्त)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (शर्त)

• ते: of you/your
• ते: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध/6th case), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• मयि: toward/in me
• मयि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण/7th case), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

Context

O Jambu tree, do not hesitate to tell me if you know Sita whose body shines lovely like gold.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Sītā
• Tāla (palmyra) tree

FAQs

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

Dharma is compassion and truthful speech: Rāma asks for a truthful report motivated by kāruṇya, implying that mercy includes helping the afflicted with honest guidance.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma continues interrogating the forest, pleading with yet another tree to reveal whether it has seen Sītā.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Humility in suffering—Rāma begs for compassion rather than asserting power over nature.