Shloka 8

सीतया लक्ष्मणप्रेषणम् — Sita urges Lakshmana to seek Rama

The crisis of the ‘distressed voice’

Devanagari script

किं हि संशयमापन्ने तस्मिन्निह मया भवेत्।।3.45.8।।कर्तव्यमिह तिष्ठन्त्या यत्प्रधानस्त्वमागतः।

Transliteration

kiṁ hi saṁśayam āpanne tasminn iha mayā bhavet | kartavyam iha tiṣṭhantyā yatpradhānas tvam āgataḥ || 3.45.8 ||

Translation

เมื่อเขาตกอยู่ในอันตราย การที่ข้าอยู่ที่นี่จะมีประโยชน์อันใด? ท่านมาที่นี่เพื่อเขาเป็นหลัก ดังนั้นหน้าที่ใดเล่าที่จะสำเร็จได้ด้วยการอยู่กับข้า?

Word by Word

• kim: what
• kim: Prashna (प्रश्न)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; प्रश्नार्थक

• hi: indeed / for
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic/causal particle)

• saṃśayam: doubt / uncertainty
• saṃśayam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṃśaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• āpanne: when (he) has met with / fallen into
• āpanne: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ā + pad (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; √पद् with उपसर्ग आ; 'when (he) has fallen into'

• tasmin: in that (situation) / when he
• tasmin: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• iha: here
• iha: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देशाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iha (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb)

• mayā: by me
• mayā: Karta/Karaṇa (कर्ता/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचन

• bhavet: could be / should be
• bhavet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; √भू

• kartavyam: duty / what must be done
• kartavyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (gerundive), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; 'to be done'

• iha: here
• iha: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देशाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• tiṣṭhantyā: by staying
• tiṣṭhantyā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sthā (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमान कृदन्त, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; √स्था; 'by (me) staying'

• yat-pradhānaḥ: having that as the main purpose
• yat-pradhānaḥ: Karta-viśeṣaṇa (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yat + pradhāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (determinative): यत्-प्रधानः = 'whose primary purpose is that'; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• tvam: you
• tvam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा, एकवचन

• āgataḥ: have come
• āgataḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā + gam (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past participle used predicatively), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; √गम् with उपसर्ग आ

Context

Saumitri saw the large-eyed, dejected Sita crying in distress.He pacified and consoled her but she did not say anything at all to her husband's brother.

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Lakṣmaṇa
• Rāma

FAQs

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

It appeals to role-based dharma: Lakṣmaṇa’s stated purpose is service to Rāma, so Sītā argues that duty should prioritize aiding Rāma in danger.

What is the narrative situation?

Sītā reframes the dilemma as a question of mission and obligation, urging Lakṣmaṇa to go to Rāma.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Commitment to one’s primary vow/service (sevā-dharma) is emphasized, even amid competing obligations.