Shloka 11

सीतान्वेषणारम्भः

The Search for Sita Begins

Devanagari script

इतीव विलपन्रामस्सीतादर्शनलालसः।।।।न ददर्श सुदुःखार्तो राघवो जनकात्मजाम्।

Transliteration

itīva vilapan rāmaḥ sītādarśanalālasaḥ |

na dadarśa suduḥkhārto rāghavo janakātmajām |

Translation

Than khóc như vậy, Rāma khát khao được thấy Sītā; nhưng dù bị nỗi sầu khổ cùng cực đâm thấu, đấng Rāghava vẫn chẳng thấy ái nữ của vua Janaka.

Word by Word

• mā: do not
• mā: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: mā (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (prohibitive particle, used with imperative)

• viṣādam: despondency/sorrow
• viṣādam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣāda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• mahābāho: O long-armed one
• mahābāho: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + bāhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि: ‘महान्तौ बाहू यस्य’; पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• kuru: do/make
• kuru: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• yatnam: effort
• yatnam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yatna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• mayā: with me
• mayā: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, उत्तमपुरुष, तृतीया, एकवचन

• saha: together with
• saha: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: saha (अव्यय)
• Form: सह-अर्थक-अव्यय (postposition: ‘with’)

• idam: this
• idam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: idam (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम-विशेषण, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; here with vanaṃ (acc.)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय

• hi: indeed/for
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphasis/causal particle)

• vanam: forest
• vanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• śūra: O hero
• śūra: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śūra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• bahu-kandara-śobhitam: adorned with many caves
• bahu-kandara-śobhitam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bahu (प्रातिपदिक) + kandara (प्रातिपदिक) + śobhita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष: ‘बहुभिः कन्दरैः शोभितम्’; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (of vanaṃ)

Context

Deeply distressed, Rama who was anxious to see Sita, daughter of Janaka, wailed and wailed but could not see her.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Sītā
• Janaka

FAQs

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

Dharma persists even when results are absent: righteous effort and truthful longing continue despite immediate failure to find what is sought.

What is the narrative situation?

After Rāma’s outcry, the narration confirms he still cannot find Sītā.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Perseverance through suffering—Rāma’s yearning does not become apathy; it becomes continued searching.