Shloka 13

सीतावियोगे रामविलापः

Rama’s Lament in Separation from Sita

Devanagari script

गोदावरीयं सरितां वरिष्ठा प्रिया प्रियाया मम नित्यकालम्।अप्यत्र गच्छेदिति चिन्तयामि नैकाकिनी याति हि सा कदाचित्।।।।

Transliteration

godāvarīyaṁ saritāṁ variṣṭhā priyā priyāyā mama nityakālam |

apy atra gacched iti cintayāmi naikākinī yāti hi sā kadācit ||

Translation

นางจะไปยังแม่น้ำโคทาวารี—ประเสริฐยิ่งในหมู่สายน้ำ และเป็นที่รักนิรันดร์ของนางผู้เป็นที่รักของเรา—หรือหนอ? แต่เราคิดว่าไม่น่าใช่ เพราะนางไม่เคยไปแห่งใดเพียงลำพังเลย

Word by Word

गोदावरीGodāvarī (river)

इयम्this

सरिताम्of rivers / among rivers

वरिष्ठाthe foremost / best

प्रियाdear

प्रियायाःof (my) beloved (woman)

ममmy

नित्यकालम्always / at all times

अपिeven / also

अत्रhere

गच्छेत्may go / would go

इतिthus

चिन्तयामिI think / I consider

नnot

एकाकिनीalone

यातिgoes

हिindeed / for

साshe

कदाचित्ever / at any time

Context

Would she have gone to Godavari, the foremost of the rivers so dear at all times to my beloved ? But I think she has not gone there alone at any time.

Characters & Entities

Rama

Sita

Lakshmana

Godavari

FAQs

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

Dharma is reflected as prudent care and responsibility: Rama reasons based on Sita’s established conduct (she does not go alone), using truthfulness to guide the search rather than panic.

What is the narrative situation?

Rama considers possible places Sita might have gone, specifically the Godavari, then rejects it as unlikely.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rama’s reflective discernment (reasoning amid grief) and Sita’s consistent, careful behavior.