Shloka 17

सीताया वनगमननिश्चयः

Sita’s Resolve to Accompany Rama to the Forest

Devanagari script

हंसकारण्डवाकीर्णाः पद्मिनीस्साधुपुष्पिताः।इच्छेयं सुखिनी द्रष्टुं त्वया वीरेण सङ्गता।।।।

Transliteration

haṃsakāraṇḍavākīrṇāḥ padminīḥ sādhupuṣpitāḥ |

iccheyaṃ sukhinī draṣṭuṃ tvayā vīreṇa saṅgatā ||

Translation

വീരനേ! നിന്റെ സാന്നിധ്യത്തിൽ സന്തോഷത്തോടെ, ഹംസങ്ങളും കാരണ്ഡവങ്ങളും നിറഞ്ഞു, മനോഹരമായി പുഷ്പിച്ച താമരക്കുളങ്ങൾ കാണാൻ ഞാൻ ആഗ്രഹിക്കുന്നു.

Word by Word

• हंसकारण्डवाकीर्णाः: filled with swans and ducks
• हंसकारण्डवाकीर्णाः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हंस + कारण्डव + आकीर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुवचन, प्रथमा (Nominative/1st); विशेषण (qualifying पद्मिन्यः); समासः: हंसकारण्डव-आकीर्ण = ‘hamsa-kāraṇḍavair ākīrṇāḥ’ (तृतीया-तत्पुरुष)

• पद्मिनीः: lotus-ponds
• पद्मिनीः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद्मिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन

• साधुपुष्पिताः: well-bloomed
• साधुपुष्पिताः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: साधु + पुष्पित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुवचन, प्रथमा (Nominative/1st); विशेषण (qualifying पद्मिन्यः); समासः: साधु-पुष्पित = ‘well-bloomed’ (कर्मधारय)

• इच्छेयम्: I would like/wish
• इच्छेयम्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: इष् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• सुखिनी: happy
• सुखिनी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुखिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (of implied ‘अहम्’)

• द्रष्टुम्: to see
• द्रष्टुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive)

• त्वया: with you
• त्वया: Saha (सह/association)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन

• वीरेण: with the hero/warrior
• वीरेण: Saha (सह/association)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन; apposition to त्वया

• सङ्गता: accompanied (by you)
• सङ्गता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम् + गम् (धातु) → सङ्गत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘having accompanied/being together’

Context

Observing such vows and bathing daily in the lotus lakes, I shall be very much happy to sport with you, O large-eyed one!

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Rāma
• Lotus-ponds (padminī)
• Swans (haṃsa)

FAQs

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

Dharma includes cultivating inner joy without abandoning duty—Sītā seeks beauty and serenity while remaining committed to righteous companionship.

What is the narrative situation?

Sītā expresses her desire to share the forest’s natural splendor with Rāma, strengthening her case to accompany him.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Positive steadfastness—she transforms exile into shared life rather than separation and despair.