Shloka 17

मारीचवधोत्तरं रामस्य शङ्का-निमित्त-दर्शनं लक्ष्मण-निग्रहश्च

After Maricha’s Slaying: Omens, Anxiety, and Rama’s Rebuke of Lakshmana

Devanagari script

गृहीत्वा च करं सव्यं लक्ष्मणं रघुनन्दनः।।।।उवाच मधुरोदर्कमिदं परुषमार्तिमत्।

Transliteration

gṛhītvā ca karaṃ savyaṃ lakṣmaṇaṃ raghunandanaḥ |

uvāca madhurodarkaṃ idaṃ paruṣam ārtimat ||

Translation

แล้วพระราม ผู้เป็นความปีติแห่งวงศ์รฆุ ทรงจับพระหัตถ์ซ้ายของพระลักษมณ์ไว้ และด้วยความโศกา จึงตรัสถ้อยคำที่เจตนาอ่อนโยน ทว่าแฝงความกระด้างและบาดลึก

Word by Word

• gṛhītvā: having taken hold
• gṛhītvā: Pūrvakāla (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √grah (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (gerund), अव्ययभाव; अर्थः—गृहीत्वा (having taken/held)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction ‘and’)

• karam: hand
• karam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• savyam: left
• savyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: savya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (of karam)

• lakṣmaṇam: Lakshmana
• lakṣmaṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lakṣmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• raghu-nandanaḥ: delight/descendant of Raghu (Rama)
• raghu-nandanaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: raghu (प्रातिपदिक) + nandana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (रघोः नन्दनः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• madhura-udarkam: sweet in outcome/ending
• madhura-udarkam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: madhura (प्रातिपदिक) + udarka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (मधुरः उदर्कः यस्य/मधुरोदर्कम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (of idam)

• idam: this (speech)
• idam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्म (object of uvāca)

• paruṣam: harsh
• paruṣam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: paruṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (of idam)

• ārtimat: anguish-filled; piteous
• ārtimat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ārtimat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (of idam); अर्थः—आर्तियुक्तम् (piteous, full of anguish)

Context

O heroic Lakshmana! I see many inauspicious omens. I think Sita might have been lost or eaten away by the demons of the forest. There is no doubt about it.

Characters & Entities

• Rama (Raghunandana)
• Lakshmana

FAQs

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

Dharma in speech: even when compelled by grief, one must strive to align words with truth and with the welfare of loved ones.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma, fearing for Sītā, physically steadies Lakṣmaṇa by the hand and prepares to address him under emotional strain.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s deep attachment and responsibility—his grief reveals how seriously he holds the duty of protection.