Shloka 2

रामलक्षणवर्णनम्

Description of Rama and Lakshmana; Alliance Narrative to Sita

Devanagari script

क्व ते रामेण संसर्गः कथं जानासि लक्ष्मणम्।वानराणां नराणां च कथमासीत्समागमः।।।।

Transliteration

kva te rāmeṇa saṁsargaḥ kathaṁ jānāsi lakṣmaṇam | vānarāṇāṁ narāṇāṁ ca katham āsīt samāgamaḥ ||

Translation

നിനക്ക് രാമനുമായി എവിടെ സമ്പർക്കം ഉണ്ടായി? ലക്ഷ്മണനെ നീ എങ്ങനെ അറിയുന്നു? വാനരന്മാരും മനുഷ്യരും തമ്മിൽ ആ സഖ്യം എങ്ങനെ ഉണ്ടായി?

Word by Word

• tām: that
• tām: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; refers to rāma-kathām

• tu: but; indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/अन्वयार्थक-अव्यय (particle: ‘but/indeed’)

• rāma-kathām: Rama's story
• rāma-kathām: Karma (कर्म/object of śrutvā)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक) + kathā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (rāmasya kathā); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• śrutvā: having heard
• śrutvā: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śru (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund), ‘having heard’

• vaidehī: Vaidehi (Sita)
• vaidehī: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaidehī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• vānararṣabhāt: from the bull among vanaras
• vānararṣabhāt: Apadana (अपादान/source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vānara (प्रातिपदिक) + ṛṣabha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (vānarāṇām ṛṣabhaḥ = ‘bull among vanaras’); पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचन; अपादान (source)

• uvāca: said; spoke
• uvāca: Kriya (क्रिया/predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• vacanam: words; speech
• vacanam: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• sāntvam: comforting; conciliatory
• sāntvam: Karma (कर्म/qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sāntva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण of vacanam

• idam: this
• idam: Karma (कर्म/qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण of vacanam

• madhurayā: with sweet
• madhurayā: Karana (करण/instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: madhura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; विशेषण of girā

• girā: speech; voice
• girā: Karana (करण/instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gir (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

Context

"His tone is resonant like drums, he has a beautiful, dark, shining complexion. He has symmetrical, well- proportioned limbs. He is neither too tall nor too short.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa
• Vānara

FAQs

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

Prudent discernment: before trusting a messenger, one should verify identity and credentials. This protects dharma by preventing deception and rash action.

What is the narrative situation?

In Laṅkā, Sītā questions Hanumān to test the truth of his claims and to understand how he is connected to Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s wisdom and vigilance—she seeks truthful verification (satya-parīkṣā) rather than yielding to emotion.