Shloka 10

गोदावरीतटे सीतान्वेषणम्

The Search for Sītā at the Godāvarī

Devanagari script

निराशस्तु तया नद्या सीताया दर्शने कृतः।उवाच रामस्सौमित्रिं सीतादर्शनकर्शितः।।।।

Transliteration

nirāśas tu tayā nadyā sītāyā darśane kṛtaḥ | uvāca rāmaḥ saumitriṃ sītādarśanakarśitaḥ ||

Translation

Không được con sông đáp lại, lòng Ngài hóa tuyệt vọng; vì khổ đau không thấy Sītā mà hao mòn, Rāma cất lời nói với Saumitri Lakṣmaṇa.

Word by Word

निराशःhopeless/disappointed

तुbut

तयाby that

नद्याby the river

सीतायाःof Sita

दर्शनेin (the matter of) seeing

कृतःwas made

उवाचsaid

रामःRama

सौमित्रिम्to Saumitri (Lakshmana)

सीतादर्शनकर्शितःemaciated due to (lack of) seeing Sita

Context

Disappointed by the river and emaciated by not being able to see Sita, Rama said to Lakshmana :

Characters & Entities

Rama

Lakshmana (Saumitri)

Sita

Godavari (river; implied by context)

FAQs

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

Dharma here is steadfastness in responsibility even under grief: Rāma does not abandon the search, but communicates and acts, transforming personal sorrow into purposeful effort.

What is the narrative situation?

After Sītā’s abduction, Rāma seeks clues in the forest; even the river’s silence deepens his despair, and he turns to Lakṣmaṇa to proceed.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Perseverance and moral focus under suffering—Rāma’s grief does not nullify his duty to recover Sītā.