Valmiki Ramayana 2.55.30 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 55, Shloka 30

चित्रकूटमार्गोपदेशः

Instructions for the Chitrakuta Route and the Yamuna Crossing

Devanagari script

एकैकं पादपं गुल्मं लतां वा पुष्पशालिनीम्।अदृष्टपूर्वां पश्यन्ती रामं पप्रच्छ साऽबला।।।।

Transliteration

ekaikaṁ pādapaṁ gulmaṁ latāṁ vā puṣpaśālinīm | adṛṣṭapūrvāṁ paśyantī rāmaṁ papraccha sā 'balā ||

Translation

สตรีผู้แสนอ่อนโยนนั้น เมื่อเห็นต้นไม้ทีละต้น พุ่มไม้ และเถาวัลย์ดอกงามที่ไม่เคยเห็นมาก่อน ก็เฝ้าทูลถามพระรามถึงสิ่งเหล่านั้นอยู่เนืองๆ

Word by Word

• एकैकम्: one by one
• एकैकम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एक-एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (adverbial), पुनरुक्त-अव्ययीभावः; अर्थे: one by one

• पादपम्: a tree
• पादपम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पादप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

• गुल्मम्: a shrub/bush
• गुल्मम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुल्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

• लताम्: a creeper
• लताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक-निपात (disjunctive particle: or)

• पुष्पशालिनीम्: flowering; possessing flowers
• पुष्पशालिनीम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुष्प-शालिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying the seen plant)

• अदृष्टपूर्वाम्: never seen before
• अदृष्टपूर्वाम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-दृष्ट-पूर्वा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• पश्यन्ती: seeing
• पश्यन्ती: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पश् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले कृदन्तः (शतृ-प्रत्यय/वर्तमान-कर्तरि कृदन्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘seeing’

• रामम्: to Rama
• रामम्: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

• पप्रच्छ: asked
• पप्रच्छ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रच्छ् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• सा: she
• सा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• अबला: gentle/helpless woman
• अबला: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-बला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (of सा)

Context

That gentle lady enquired of Rama about a tree or a shrub or a creeper in full bloom which she did not see before.

Characters & Entities

• Sita
• Rama

FAQs

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

Dharma as mindful living: even in exile, Sītā’s attentive engagement with nature reflects a disciplined, appreciative mind rather than bitterness.

What is the narrative situation?

While traveling through the forest, Sītā notices unfamiliar flowering plants and asks Rama to identify or explain them.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s curiosity and serenity, and the couple’s gentle companionship amid hardship.