Shloka 44

पम्पा

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

Devanagari script

रुचिराण्यपि पुष्पाणि पादपानामतिश्रिया।निष्फलानि महीं यान्ति समं मधुकरोत्करैः।।।।

Transliteration

rucirāṇy api puṣpāṇi pādapānām ati-śriyā | niṣphalāni mahīṃ yānti samaṃ madhukarotkaraiḥ ||

Translation

पादपानाम् अतिश्रिया रुचिराण्यपि पुष्पाणि मधुकरोत्करैः समं निष्फलानि महीं यान्ति॥

Word by Word

• rucirāṇi: beautiful
• rucirāṇi: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rucira (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; qualifying 'puṣpāṇi'

• api: even/also
• api: Sambandha (Particle/निपात-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; concessive/additive particle

• puṣpāṇi: flowers
• puṣpāṇi: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puṣpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana

• pādapānām: of trees
• pādapānām: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pādapa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī (Genitive), Bahuvacana

• ati-śriyā: with great splendour
• ati-śriyā: Karaṇa (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ati (अव्यय/उपसर्ग) + śrī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Tṛtīyā (Instrumental), Ekavacana; adverbial-instrumental 'with excessive beauty/splendour'

• niṣphalāni: useless
• niṣphalāni: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: niṣphala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; predicate adjective of 'puṣpāṇi'

• mahīm: to the ground
• mahīm: Karma (Goal/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā (Accusative), Ekavacana

• yānti: go/fall
• yānti: Kriyā (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √yā (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (Present), Prathama puruṣa, Bahuvacana

• samam: together with
• samam: Sambandha (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sama (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb 'together/equally'

• madhukara-utkaraiḥ: with swarms of bees
• madhukara-utkaraiḥ: Sahakāraka (Accompaniment/सह)
• Type: Noun
• Root: madhukara (प्रातिपदिक) + utkāra/utkara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa compound; Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā (Instrumental), Bahuvacana

Context

'The trees look enchanting with flowers in full bloom, with bees hovering over them. But the flowers fruitlessly drop down on the ground.

Characters & Entities

• Lakshmana
• bees
• trees
• earth/ground

FAQs

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

External splendor is unstable; dharmic life seeks enduring purpose beyond fleeting pleasure—an implicit critique of relying on sensory delight while duty remains.

What is the narrative situation?

Rama interprets spring’s beauty through his grief, seeing even blossoms and bees as part of a joy that collapses for him.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Detachment from indulgence—Rama refuses to be soothed by beauty while separated from Sita.