Shloka 64

पम्पा

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

Devanagari script

चक्रवाकयुता नित्यं चित्रप्रस्तवनान्तरा।मातङ्गमृगयूथैश्च शोभते सलिलार्थिभिः।।।।

Transliteration

cakravākayutā nityaṃ citraprastavanāntarā | mātaṅgamṛgayūthaiś ca śobhate salilārthibhiḥ ||

Translation

నిత్యం చక్రవాక పక్షులతో కూడి, చిత్రమైన వనప్రాంతపు ఒడ్డులతో అలంకృతమైన పంపా, నీటిని కోరుతూ వచ్చిన ఏనుగులూ జింకల గుంపులతో మరింత శోభిస్తుంది।

Word by Word

• cakravākayutā: accompanied by cakravāka birds
• cakravākayutā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: cakravāka + yuta (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (cakravākaiḥ yutā) = ‘accompanied by cakravāka birds’; qualifies (pampā understood)

• nityam: always
• nityam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nityam (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण

• citraprastavanāntarā: with beautiful forested stretches
• citraprastavanāntarā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: citra + prastava + vana + antara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (citrāḥ prastavavanāntarāḥ yasyāḥ) = ‘having wonderful forest-tracts/wooded slopes in between’; qualifies (pampā)

• mātaṅgamṛgayūthaiḥ: by herds of elephants and deer
• mātaṅgamṛgayūthaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mātaṅga + mṛga + yūtha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (yūtha), तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन; द्वन्द्व (mātaṅgāś ca mṛgāś ca) + yūtha ‘herds’

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• śobhate: shines, looks splendid
• śobhate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śubh (धातु)
• Form: लट्, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• salilārthibhiḥ: by those seeking water
• salilārthibhiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: salila + arthin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (salilasya arthinaḥ) = ‘those seeking water’

Context

'Frequented by the Chakravakas and surrounded by the wonderful forest with thirsty elephants and deer this Pampa looks beautiful.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa
• Pampā (lake)
• Cakravāka birds
• Elephants (mātaṅga)
• Deer (mṛga)

FAQs

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

The verse highlights dharma as shared sustenance: the lake supports many lives without discrimination—an image for righteous governance and compassionate provision.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma depicts Pampā as a living ecosystem—birds and animals congregate there—while he and Lakṣmaṇa proceed in their quest.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Empathetic awareness—Rāma notices the needs of living beings (salilārthin), reflecting a compassionate temperament.