Shloka 20

सीतया लक्ष्मणप्रेषणम् — Sita urges Lakshmana to seek Rama

The crisis of the ‘distressed voice’

Devanagari script

लक्ष्मणेनैवमुक्ता सा क्रुद्धा संरक्तलोचना।।3.45.20।।अब्रवीत्परुषं वाक्यं लक्ष्मणं सत्यवादिनम्।

Transliteration

lakṣmaṇenaivam uktā sā kruddhā saṃraktalocanā || 3.45.20 || abravīt paruṣaṃ vākyaṃ lakṣmaṇaṃ satyavādinam |

Translation

Assim advertida por Lakṣmaṇa, ela se enfureceu, com os olhos avermelhados, e falou palavras duras a Lakṣmaṇa, conhecido por dizer a verdade.

Word by Word

• lakṣmaṇena: by Lakshmana
• lakṣmaṇena: Karta (कर्ता/agent in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lakṣmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Ekavacana

• evam: thus
• evam: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: Prakāra-avyaya (adverb of manner)

• uktā: having been spoken to
• uktā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (वच् धातु)
• Form: Bhūta-kṛdanta (PPP, क्त), Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; passive participle "having been told"

• sā: she
• sā: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• kruddhā: angry
• kruddhā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kruddha (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √krudh धातु)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; PPP used adjectivally

• saṅrakta-locanā: with reddened eyes
• saṅrakta-locanā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: saṅrakta (कृदन्त; √rañj) + locana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; bahuvrīhi = "one whose eyes are reddened"

• abravīt: said
• abravīt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √brū (ब्रू धातु)
• Form: Luṅ (लुङ्/aorist), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana; parasmaipada

• paruṣam: harsh
• paruṣam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: paruṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; qualifies "vākyam"

• vākyam: words / speech
• vākyam: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vākya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• lakṣmaṇam: to Lakshmana
• lakṣmaṇam: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान/recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lakṣmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• satyavādinam: truthful
• satyavādinam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: satya + vādin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa = "truth-speaking"; qualifies "lakṣmaṇam"

Context

Addressed thus by Lakshmana, Sita got mighty angry. Her eyes turned red and she spoke harshly to truthful Lakshmana

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Lakṣmaṇa

FAQs

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

It highlights how even the virtuous can be tested: anger can distort judgment, and harsh speech can be directed even at the truthful—warning against adharma through uncontrolled emotion.

What is the narrative situation?

After Lakṣmaṇa’s attempt to reassure her, Sītā becomes angry and begins to rebuke him.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Lakṣmaṇa’s reputation for satya (truthfulness) is explicitly affirmed, even as he faces unjust accusation.