Shloka 70

पम्पा

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

Devanagari script

पद्मकोशपलाशानि द्रष्टुं दृष्टिर्हि मन्यते।सीताया नेत्रकोशाभ्यां सदृशानीति लक्ष्मण।।।।

Transliteration

padmakośapalāśāni draṣṭuṃ dṛṣṭir hi manyate | sītāyā netrakośābhyāṃ sadṛśānīti lakṣmaṇa ||

Translation

ఓ లక్ష్మణా! పద్మకోశాల చిగురుపత్రాలను చూడాలని నా చూపు తపిస్తుంది; అవి సీతాదేవి సుందర నేత్రపుటాలకు సదృశంగా అనిపిస్తున్నాయి।

Word by Word

• पद्मकोशपलाशानि: lotus-bud petals
• पद्मकोशपलाशानि: Karma (कर्म/Object) (of draṣṭum)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद्म + कोश + पलाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; 'petals (palāśa) of lotus-buds (padma-kośa)'

• द्रष्टुम्: to see
• द्रष्टुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/Infinitive complement)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु) → द्रष्टुम् (तुमुन्)
• Form: तुमुनन्त (infinitive), 'to see'

• दृष्टिः: sight, the eye
• दृष्टिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दृष्टि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; Nominative

• हि: indeed, for
• हि: Modifier (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अव्यय; explanatory/emphatic

• मन्यते: thinks, considers
• मन्यते: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मन् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• सीतायाः: of Sītā
• सीतायाः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सीता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; Genitive

• नेत्रकोशाभ्याम्: with the two eyelids
• नेत्रकोशाभ्याम्: Karana (करण/Instrument) (standard of comparison)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नेत्र + कोश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), द्विवचन; Instrumental dual: 'by/with the two eye-sheaths (eyelids)'

• सदृशानि: similar
• सदृशानि: Karma (कर्म/Object) (predicate complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सदृश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), बहुवचन; predicate adjective to 'पद्मकोशपलाशानि'

• इति: thus
• इति: Modifier (उक्ति/quotation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उक्त्यर्थक-अव्यय (quotative particle)

• लक्ष्मण: O Lakṣmaṇa
• लक्ष्मण: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्ष्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

Context

'Seeing the delicate petals around the lotus buds that look like beautiful eye-lids of Sita, my eyes crave for them O Lakshmana!

Characters & Entities

• Rama (speaker)
• Lakshmana
• Sita

FAQs

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

Dharma is steadfast fidelity (niṣṭhā) expressed through satya of the heart: Rama’s unwavering commitment to Sītā remains intact; remembrance does not weaken duty but sustains the righteous resolve to find her.

What is the narrative situation?

While traveling near Pampā, Rama sees lotus buds and is overcome by memory of Sītā, speaking to Lakṣmaṇa about the resemblance to her eyelids.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Loyal love and constancy: Rama’s mind remains anchored in Sītā, reflecting integrity and devotion rather than distraction or forgetfulness.