Valmiki Ramayana 3.64.39 — Aranya Kanda, Sarga 64, Shloka 39

गोदावरीतटे सीतान्वेषणम्

The Search for Sītā at the Godāvarī

Devanagari script

पश्य लक्ष्मण वैदेह्याशशीर्णाः कनकबिन्दवः।भूषणानां हि सौमित्रे माल्यानि विविधानि च।।।।

Transliteration

paśya lakṣmaṇa vaidēhyāḥ śīrṇāḥ kanakabindavaḥ | bhūṣaṇānāṃ hi saumitre mālyāni vividhāni ca || 3.64.39 ||

Translation

ലക്ഷ്മണാ, നോക്കുക—വൈദേഹിയുടെ ആഭരണങ്ങളിൽ നിന്നു പൊട്ടിപ്പിരിഞ്ഞ സ്വർണ്ണകണങ്ങൾ ഇവിടെ വീണിരിക്കുന്നു; സൌമിത്രേ, പലവിധ മാലകളും ഇവിടെ ചിതറിയിരിക്കുന്നു.

Word by Word

• manye: I think
• manye: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: man (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ lakāra (present), Uttama-puruṣa (1st), Ekavacana, Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद)

• lakṣmaṇa: O Lakshmana
• lakṣmaṇa: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lakṣmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Sambodhana, Ekavacana

• vaidēhī: Vaidehi (Sita)
• vaidēhī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaidehī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• rākṣasaiḥ: by demons
• rākṣasaiḥ: Karaṇa/Agent (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rākṣasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Bahuvacana

• kāmarūpibhiḥ: shape-shifting at will
• kāmarūpibhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kāma + rūpin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa: kāma-rūpin = 'having forms at will'; Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Bahuvacana; viśeṣaṇa of rākṣasaiḥ

• bhitvā: having broken
• bhitvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhid (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा), indeclinable; 'having broken'

• abhitvā: having broken again
• abhitvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhid (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा) with prefix a- used as iterative/emphatic in repetition; indeclinable; 'having broken (again)'

• vibhaktā: torn apart/divided
• vibhaktā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi + bhaj (धातु)
• Form: Upasarga: vi-; Bhūta-kṛdanta (क्त), Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; predicate adjective of vaidēhī

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Vikalpa-avyaya (alternative)

• bhakṣitā: eaten/devoured
• bhakṣitā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhakṣ (धातु)
• Form: Bhūta-kṛdanta (क्त), Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; predicate adjective of vaidēhī

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Vikalpa-avyaya

• bhaviṣyati: will be
• bhaviṣyati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: Luṭ lakāra (लुट्/future), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana, Parasmaipada

Context

Where could Vaidehi, destroyer of sorrow, go? I wonder. I am unable to trace the spot where the daughter of Janaka could be found.

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Lakshmana
• Sita (Vaidehi)
• Ornaments
• Garlands
• Gold

FAQs

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

Dharma includes truthful recognition of reality: Rāma points to concrete signs, grounding his response in evidence rather than speculation.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma identifies broken ornaments and garlands on the ground, indicating Sītā was forcibly taken and struggled at this location.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Attentiveness and discernment: Rāma reads the scene carefully to guide righteous action.