Shloka 29

पम्पा

तीर-वर्णनम् / Rama’s Lament at Pampa and the Approach to Rishyamuka

Devanagari script

अशोकस्तबकाङ्गारष्षट्पदस्वननिःस्वनः।मां हि पल्लवताम्रार्चिर्वसन्ताग्निः प्रधक्ष्यति।।।।

Transliteration

aśoka-stabakāṅgāraḥ ṣaṭpada-svananiḥsvanaḥ |

māṁ hi pallava-tāmrārciḥ vasantāgniḥ pradhakṣyati ||

Translation

വസന്താഗ്നി എന്നെ തീർച്ചയായും ദഹിപ്പിക്കും: അശോകപുഷ്പഗുച്ചങ്ങൾ അതിന്റെ കനൽക്കട്ടകൾ, ഷട്പദങ്ങളുടെ ഗുഞ്ജനം അതിന്റെ ചടചട ശബ്ദം, কোমല പല്ലവങ്ങളുടെ താമ്രവർണ്ണപ്രഭ അതിന്റെ ജ്വാലയാണ്.

Word by Word

• aśoka-stabaka-aṅgāraḥ: Asoka-cluster embers
• aśoka-stabaka-aṅgāraḥ: Karta (कर्ता) (metaphorical component)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aśoka (प्रातिपदिक) + stabaka (प्रातिपदिक) + aṅgāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Prathamā (प्रथमा/1st), Ekavacana (एकवचन); tatpuruṣa: aśokasya stabakāḥ aṅgārā iva (Asoka clusters as embers/charcoal)

• ṣaṭpada-svana-niḥsvanaḥ: the resounding hum of bees
• ṣaṭpada-svana-niḥsvanaḥ: Karta (कर्ता) (metaphorical component)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṣaṭpada (प्रातिपदिक) + svana (प्रातिपदिक) + niḥsvana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: ṣaṭpadānāṃ svanaḥ niḥsvanaḥ (the loud hum of bees)

• mām: me
• mām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: Dvitīyā (द्वितीया/2nd, accusative), Ekavacana (एकवचन)

• hi: indeed
• hi: Avadhāraṇa (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; particle (निपात) of emphasis/causal nuance

• pallava-tāmra-arciḥ: coppery flame of tender leaves
• pallava-tāmra-arciḥ: Karta (कर्ता) (metaphorical component)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pallava (प्रातिपदिक) + tāmra (प्रातिपदिक) + arcis (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Prathamā (प्रथमा/1st), Ekavacana (एकवचन); karmadhāraya: pallavānāṃ tāmra-arciḥ (coppery flame = tender reddish leaves)

• vasanta-agniḥ: the fire of spring
• vasanta-agniḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vasanta (प्रातिपदिक) + agni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: vasantasya agniḥ (fire of spring)

• pradhakṣyati: will burn up, consume
• pradhakṣyati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√dhakṣ (धातु; √dah (धातु) future stem)
• Form: Luṭ-lakāra (लुट्/Future), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana (singular); parasmaipada

Context

'The fire of spring with clusters of Asoka flowers as its charcoal, its copper-coloured tender leaves as flames, the buzz of bees as its crackle will, as if, consume me.

Characters & Entities

• bees (ṣaṭpada)
• spring (vasanta)
• Lakshmana (implied by address in surrounding passage)

FAQs

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

The verse underscores truthful acknowledgement of suffering (satya) while remaining aligned with dharma: one may be ‘burned’ inwardly, yet must not forsake righteous action.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma poetically describes spring as a consuming fire, because it intensifies his separation from Sītā.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Emotional depth joined with restraint: Rāma’s grief is intense, but expressed through reflective speech rather than harmful conduct.