Shloka 21

शरत्प्रवेशे रामविलापः तथा सुग्रीवप्रमादे लक्ष्मणप्रेषणम्

Autumn’s Onset: Rama’s Lament and Lakshmana Sent to Sugriva

Devanagari script

अथ पद्मपलाशाक्षीं मैथिलीमनुचिन्तयन्।उवाच लक्ष्मणं रामो मुखेन परिशुष्यता।।

Transliteration

atha padmapalāśākṣīṁ maithilīm anucintayan | uvāca lakṣmaṇaṁ rāmo mukhena pariśuṣyatā ||

Translation

तेव्हा कमलपानासारख्या नेत्रांची मैथिली सतत मनात धरून, दुःखाने मुख कोरडे पडलेल्या रामांनी लक्ष्मणास सांगितले।

Word by Word

• atha: then
• atha: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb) आरम्भ/अनन्तरार्थ

• padma-palāśa-akṣīm: having lotus-petal-like eyes
• padma-palāśa-akṣīm: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: padma (प्रातिपदिक) + palāśa (प्रातिपदिक) + akṣī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष: 'पद्मस्य पलाशवत् अक्षिणी यस्याः' (eyes like lotus-petals)

• maithilīm: Maithili (Sita)
• maithilīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maithilī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• anucintayan: thinking of; pondering
• anucintayan: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: anu-√cint (चिन्त्) (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्यय (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्तरि; 'while thinking of'

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (वच्) (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• lakṣmaṇam: to Lakshmana
• lakṣmaṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lakṣmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• rāmaḥ: Rama
• rāmaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• mukhena: with (his) mouth/face
• mukhena: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• pariśuṣyatā: as it was drying up
• pariśuṣyatā: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pari-√śuṣ (शुष्) (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्यय (present active participle) in तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; 'pariśuṣyat' = drying up; agreeing with mukhena (instrumental absolute-like usage)

Context

Then falling back on the memory of Maithili, the lady with eyes like lotus petals, he said to Lakshmana with parched lips:

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Lakshmana
• Maithili (Sita)

FAQs

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

Dharma is faithful commitment: Rama’s sustained remembrance of Sita reflects unwavering marital fidelity and responsibility, even amid political and practical obstacles.

What is the narrative situation?

Rama’s grief intensifies; thinking of Sita, he turns to speak with Lakshmana as they assess the stalled progress of the search.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Loyalty and steadfast love joined with endurance—Rama bears suffering without abandoning his righteous purpose.