Shloka 4

पम्पा

तीर-वर्णनम् / Rama’s Lament at Pampa and the Approach to Rishyamuka

Devanagari script

सौमित्रे पश्य पम्पायाः काननं शुभदर्शनम्।यत्र राजन्ति शैला वा द्रुमास्सशिखरा इव।।।।

Transliteration

saumitre paśya pampāyāḥ kānanaṃ śubha-darśanam |

yatra rājanti śailā vā drumāḥ sa-śikharā iva ||

Translation

โอ้ เสามิตรี จงดูพนาพงแห่งปัมปาอันงามตา; ที่ซึ่งหมู่ไม้ส่องประกายดุจภูผามียอดสูง

Word by Word

• सौमित्रे: O Saumitri
• सौमित्रे: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सौमित्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-प्रथमा, एकवचन; Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• पश्य: see
• पश्य: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (आज्ञार्थ/Imperative), मध्यम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; Imperative 2nd person singular

• पम्पायाः: of Pampa
• पम्पायाः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पम्पा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Feminine, Genitive, Singular

• काननम्: forest
• काननम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कानन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; object of पश्य; Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• शुभदर्शनम्: pleasant to behold
• शुभदर्शनम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ + दर्शन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय (शुभं दर्शनं यस्य); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; adjective qualifying काननम्; Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• यत्र: where
• यत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्बन्ध/देशवाचक अव्यय; relative adverb ‘where’

• राजन्ति: shine/appear splendid
• राजन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: राज् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (वर्तमान/Present), प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद; Present 3rd person plural

• शैलाः: mountains
• शैलाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शैल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक अव्यय; disjunctive particle ‘or/indeed’

• द्रुमाः: trees
• द्रुमाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रुम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• सशिखराः: with peaks/with lofty tops
• सशिखराः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स + शिखर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष/उपपद (शिखरैः सह); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; adjective qualifying द्रुमाः; Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• इव: like
• इव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमार्थक अव्यय; comparative particle ‘like’

Context

'O Saumitri! look at the pleasant forest around Pampa where trees stand splendid like mountain-peaks.

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Lakshmana
• Pampā (lake/region)
• forest (kānana)
• trees (druma)
• mountains (śaila)

FAQs

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

Dharma is reflected in purposeful companionship: Lakṣmaṇa’s loyal attendance and Rāma’s steady forward movement through the forest frame the quest as righteous duty, not mere wandering.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa arrive near Pampā; Rāma draws Lakṣmaṇa’s attention to the forest’s beauty as they proceed in the search for Sītā.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Brotherly loyalty and steadiness: Lakṣmaṇa’s role as attentive companion is foregrounded by Rāma addressing him and guiding their shared journey.