Shloka 28

गोदावरीतटे सीतान्वेषणम्

The Search for Sītā at the Godāvarī

Devanagari script

एवमुक्त्वा महाबाहुं लक्ष्मणं पुरुषर्षभः।।।।उवाच रामो धर्मात्मा गिरिं प्रस्रवणाकुलम्।

Transliteration

evam uktvā mahābāhuṃ lakṣmaṇaṃ puruṣarṣabhaḥ | uvāca rāmo dharmātmā giriṃ prasravaṇākulam ||

Translation

ครั้นตรัสดังนี้แก่พระลักษมณ์ผู้มีพาหายาวแล้ว พระรามผู้ทรงธรรม อันเป็นยอดแห่งบุรุษ ก็ทรงเปล่งวาจาต่อภูเขาประสราวณะ อันพรั่งพร้อมด้วยธารน้ำมากมาย

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: प्रकार
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• उक्त्वा: having said
• उक्त्वा: पूर्वक्रिया
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund)

• महाबाहुम्: long-armed
• महाबाहुम्: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + बाहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय (महान् बाहुः यस्य); पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; लक्ष्मणम् इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम्

• लक्ष्मणम्: Lakshmana
• लक्ष्मणम्: सम्प्रदान (addressee)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्ष्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/सम्प्रदान-प्राय), एकवचन

• पुरुषर्षभः: bull among men
• पुरुषर्षभः: कर्ता/विशेषण
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक) + ऋषभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (पुरुषाणाम् ऋषभः); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; रामस्य विशेषणम्

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: क्रिया
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• रामः: Rama
• रामः: कर्ता
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन

• धर्मात्मा: righteous-souled
• धर्मात्मा: कर्ता/विशेषण
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि (धर्मः आत्मा यस्य); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; रामस्य विशेषणम्

• गिरिम्: mountain
• गिरिम्: कर्म
• Type: Noun
• Root: गिरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• प्रस्रवणाकुलम्: full of streams
• प्रस्रवणाकुलम्: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रस्रवण (प्रातिपदिक) + आकुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (प्रस्रवणैः आकुलः/आकुलम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; गिरिम् इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम्

Context

Rigteous Rama, the best among men, having said these words to the long-armed Lakshmana, asked mount Prasravana, full of streams:

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa
• Prasravaṇa (mountain)

FAQs

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

Dharma is humility before the larger order: Rāma, though heroic, turns to the landscape itself as witness and aid, seeking truth through respectful inquiry rather than force alone.

What is the narrative situation?

The search continues toward a mountainous region; Rāma is about to question/address Mount Prasravaṇa, hoping it holds signs of Sītā’s passage.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s righteous restraint and reverent seeking—strength guided by dharma.