Shloka 16

सीतान्वेषणारम्भः

The Search for Sita Begins

Devanagari script

सरितं वापि सम्प्राप्ता मीनवञ्जुलसेविताम्।स्नातुकामा निलीना स्याद्धासकामा वने क्वचित्।।।।

Transliteration

saritaṁ vāpi samprāptā mīnavañjula-sevitām |

snātukāmā nilīnā syād dhāsakāmā vane kvacit ||3.61.16||

Translation

അല്ലെങ്കിൽ മീനുകളും വഞ്ചുല (കാട്ടുനാര/റീഡ്)കളും നിറഞ്ഞ നദീതീരത്തെ അവൾ എത്തിയിരിക്കാം; കുളിക്കണമെന്ന ആഗ്രഹത്തോടെ അവിടെ ഒളിഞ്ഞിരിക്കാം; അല്ലെങ്കിൽ കളിചിരിയോടെ പരിഹസിക്കാനാഗ്രഹിച്ച് വനത്തിൽ എവിടെയോ മറഞ്ഞിരിക്കാം.

Word by Word

• saritām: river
• saritām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarit (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक अव्यय (or)

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपि-कारक निपात (also/even)

• samprāptā: having reached
• samprāptā: Kriyā (predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam + pra + √āp (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपसर्गः sam-, pra-

• mīna-vañjula-sevitām: frequented by fish and reeds
• mīna-vañjula-sevitām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mīna (प्रातिपदिक) + vañjula (प्रातिपदिक) + sevita (प्रातिपदिक; √sev-कृत)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (of saritām); तत्पुरुषः (mīnaiḥ vañjulaiś ca sevitā)

• snātukāmā: wishing to bathe
• snātukāmā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: snātu (√snā-तुमुन्) + kāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (of sā implied); तत्पुरुषः (snātum kāmā)

• nilīnā: hidden
• nilīnā: Kriyā (predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni + √lī (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपसर्गः ni-

• syāt: might be
• syāt: Kriyā (संभावना)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √as (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• hāsa-kāmā: wishing to jest
• hāsa-kāmā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hāsa (प्रातिपदिक) + kāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (of sā implied); तत्पुरुषः (hāsam kāmā)

• vane: in the forest
• vane: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• kvacit: somewhere
• kvacit: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kvacit (अव्यय)
• Form: अनिश्चितस्थानवाचक अव्यय (somewhere)

Context

O best of men, maybe Vaidehi has hidden in the forest intending to scare you and me. She wishes to test our love. O blessed Rama! let us ransack the forest immediately.

Characters & Entities

• Lakshmana
• Rama
• Sita
• River
• Forest

FAQs

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

Dharma is maintaining balance of mind (sattva) during uncertainty: Lakṣmaṇa counters fear with reasonable possibilities so that action remains measured and truthful.

What is the narrative situation?

Lakṣmaṇa proposes everyday, non-threatening reasons for Sītā’s absence—bathing in a river or hiding playfully—so the search proceeds without collapse into despair.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Emotional steadiness and supportive companionship—Lakṣmaṇa protects Rāma’s resolve by easing his agitation.