Shloka 26

गोदावरीतटे सीतान्वेषणम्

The Search for Sītā at the Godāvarī

Devanagari script

अभिजानामि पुष्पाणि तानीमानीह लक्ष्मण।।।।पिनद्धानि हि वैदेह्या मया दत्तानि कानने।

Transliteration

abhijānāmi puṣpāṇi tān imānīha lakṣmaṇa | pinaddhāni hi vaidehyā mayā dattāni kānane ||

Translation

«Lakṣmaṇa, reconheço estas mesmas flores: Vaidehī as trazia presas; fui eu quem lhas deu nesta floresta.»

Word by Word

• अभिजानामि: I recognize
• अभिजानामि: क्रिया
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि + ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), परस्मैपद; उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन

• पुष्पाणि: flowers
• पुष्पाणि: कर्म
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुष्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), बहुवचन

• तानि: those
• तानि: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; पुष्पाणि इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम्

• इमानि: these (very)
• इमानि: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; पुष्पाणि इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम्

• इह: here
• इह: देश (location adjunct)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb of place)

• लक्ष्मण: O Lakshmana
• लक्ष्मण: सम्बोधन (address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्ष्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, संबोधन (8th), एकवचन

• पिनद्धानि: tied on, fastened (worn)
• पिनद्धानि: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पि + नह्/नह् (धातु) → पिनद्ध (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; पुष्पाणि इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम्

• हि: indeed
• हि: सम्बन्ध (discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle/emphasis)

• वैदेह्या: by Vaidehi (Sita)
• वैदेह्या: कर्ता (agent in passive sense)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैदेही (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन

• मया: by me
• मया: कर्ता (agent in passive sense)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन

• दत्तानि: given
• दत्तानि: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दा (धातु) → दत्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; पुष्पाणि इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम्

• कानने: in the forest
• कानने: अधिकरण
• Type: Noun
• Root: कानन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन

Context

O Lakshmana, here are the same flowers I had given Vaidehi to wear in the forest. I can recognize them.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa
• Vaidehī (Sītā)
• puṣpa (flowers)
• kānana (forest)

FAQs

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

Dharma is fidelity and truthfulness in relationships: Rāma’s recognition of Sītā’s adornment reflects unwavering commitment and a truthful reading of evidence in the search.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma identifies the fallen flowers as those he had given Sītā, confirming that the trail is connected to her and strengthening the direction of their pursuit.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s loyal love and clarity of recollection—turning personal memory into purposeful investigation.