Shloka 57

पम्पा

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

Devanagari script

विक्षिप्तां पवनेनैतामसौ तिलकमञ्जरीम्।षट्पदस्सहसाऽभ्येति मदोद्धूतामिव प्रियाम्।।।।

Transliteration

vikṣiptāṃ pavanenaitām asau tilakamañjarīm | ṣaṭpadaḥ sahasābhyeti madoddhūtām iva priyām ||

Translation

Lihatlah: lebah itu segera meluru ke gugusan bunga tilaka ini yang ditiup angin hingga berserak—bagaikan kekasih bergegas kepada yang dicinta, digoncang oleh gairah.

Word by Word

• vikṣiptām: scattered, tossed about
• vikṣiptām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi-kṣip (धातु) > vikṣipta (कृदन्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त) = past passive participle; agrees with "tilakamañjarīm"

• pavanena: by the wind
• pavanena: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pavana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन

• etām: this (her/this one)
• etām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• asau: that (one)
• asau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: adas (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• tilakamañjarīm: a cluster/spray of tilaka blossoms
• tilakamañjarīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tilaka + mañjarī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (tilakasya mañjarī)

• ṣaṭpadaḥ: bee
• ṣaṭpadaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṣaṭ + pada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि (षट् पदानि यस्य) = ‘six-footed’

• sahasā: suddenly, at once
• sahasā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sahasā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• abhyeti: approaches
• abhyeti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi-√i (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• madoddhūtām: as if driven by intoxication
• madoddhūtām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mada + uddhūta (कृदन्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कृदन्त (क्त) ‘uddhūta’; तत्पुरुष (madena uddhūtā) = ‘driven by intoxication’

• iva: like, as if
• iva: Upamā (उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमा-प्रयोगे निपात (comparative particle)

• priyām: beloved woman
• priyām: Upamāna/Karma (उपमान/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: priyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; उपमान (object of comparison)

Context

'This honeybee is eager to approach the bunch of tilaka flowers in bloom scattered by the wind like a lover advancing towards his passionate beloved.

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Lakshmana
• Wind
• Bee (Ṣaṭpada)

FAQs

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

Rightful love versus uncontrolled desire: by observing nature’s erotic imagery, the text invites discernment (viveka) so that longing does not turn into adharma but is guided toward rightful reunion.

What is the narrative situation?

Rama uses a springtime image—bee and blossoms—to mirror his own love-longing while speaking to Lakshmana.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Viveka (discernment) through poetic reflection—transforming emotion into insight rather than impulsive action.