Shloka 14

सीतान्वेषणारम्भः

The Search for Sita Begins

Devanagari script

मा विषादं महाबाहो कुरु यत्नं मया सह।इदं च हि वनं शूर बहुकन्दरशोभितम्।।।।

Transliteration

mā viṣādaṁ mahābāho kuru yatnaṁ mayā saha |

idaṁ ca hi vanaṁ śūra bahukandaraśobhitam ||3.61.14||

Translation

Wahai pahlawan berlengan panjang, janganlah larut dalam dukacita; berusahalah bersama aku. Hutan ini, wahai satria, sungguh dihiasi banyak gua.

Word by Word

• mā: do not
• mā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: mā (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक निपात (prohibitive particle, used with imperative)

• viṣādam: despondency
• viṣādam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣāda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• mahābāho: O mighty-armed one
• mahābāho: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + bāhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (yasya bāhū mahāntau)

• kuru: do
• kuru: Kriyā (आज्ञार्थक क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• yatnam: effort
• yatnam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yatna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• mayā: with me
• mayā: Sahakāraka (सह)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष सर्वनाम, तृतीया, एकवचन

• saha: together with
• saha: Sahakāraka (सह)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: saha (अव्यय)
• Form: सहार्थक अव्यय (with)

• idam: this
• idam: Karma/Adhikaraṇa (contextual)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; अत्र द्वितीया (object of implied 'paśya/jñāhi') or प्रथमा (topic)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: हेतौ/निश्चये निपात

• vanam: forest
• vanam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; अत्र प्रथमा (subject/topic)

• śūra: O hero
• śūra: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śūra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• bahu-kandara-śobhitam: adorned with many caves
• bahu-kandara-śobhitam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bahu (प्रातिपदिक) + kandara (प्रातिपदिक) + śobhita (प्रातिपदिक; √śubh-कृत)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (of vanam); बहुव्रीह्यर्थे न, बहु- (many) + kandara (caves) + śobhita (adorned)

Context

Sita is madly in love with the forest. She might have entered deep into the jungle or into a fully blossomed lotus-pond.

Characters & Entities

• Lakshmana
• Rama
• Forest

FAQs

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

Dharma is disciplined action over despair: grief must be mastered so that one can pursue the rightful task—searching and protecting—especially in crisis.

What is the narrative situation?

Lakṣmaṇa urges Rāma to stop sinking into sorrow and to search systematically, noting the forest’s many cave-like hiding places.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Steadfastness and leadership-in-support—Lakṣmaṇa strengthens Rāma with clear, action-oriented counsel.