Shloka 3

हेमन्तवर्णनम् तथा भरतधर्मनिष्ठा-चिन्तनम्

Winter Description and Reflection on Bharata’s Devotion

Devanagari script

प्रह्वः कलशहस्तस्तं सीतया सह वीर्यवान्।पृष्ठतोऽनुव्रजन्भ्राता सौमित्रिरिदमब्रवीत्।।।।

Transliteration

prahvaḥ kalaśahastas taṃ sītayā saha vīryavān | pṛṣṭhato ’nuvrajan bhrātā saumitrir idam abravīt ||

Translation

勇武的弟弟罗什曼那随行在罗摩身后，与悉多同往；悉多手执水罐，微微俯身而行。罗什曼那便说了这些话。

Word by Word

• प्रह्वः: bowed, slightly bent
• प्रह्वः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prahva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; qualifying 'saumitriḥ'

• कलश-हस्तः: having a pitcher in hand
• कलश-हस्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kalaśa-hasta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; tatpuruṣa: kalaśaḥ haste yasya (with a pitcher in hand)

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; pronoun referring to Rama

• सीतया: with Sita
• सीतया: Sahakāraka / Sahāya (सहकारक/सहाय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sītā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• सह: together with
• सह: Sahakāraka / Sahāya (सहकारक/सहाय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: saha (अव्यय)
• Form: Prepositional indeclinable (सह-अव्यय) governing instrumental

• वीर्यवान्: valiant, powerful
• वीर्यवान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vīrya-vat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; possessive adjective with -वत्

• पृष्ठतः: from behind, behind
• पृष्ठतः: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देश-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: pṛṣṭhatas (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (देशवाचक-अव्यय)

• अनुव्रजन्: following
• अनुव्रजन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anu-vraj (धातु) + śatṛ (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: Present active participle (वर्तमानकाले कर्तरि शतृ), Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; qualifying 'bhrātā/saumitriḥ'

• भ्राता: brother
• भ्राता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhrātṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• सौमित्रिः: Saumitri (Lakshmana)
• सौमित्रिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saumitri (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; patronymic of Sumitrā (Lakshmana)

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; object of speech

• अब्रवीत्: said
• अब्रवीत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: brū (धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), Parasmaipada, 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular

Context

While valiant Lakshmana, walking behind Sita who was carrying a pitcher in her hand bent down a little and told Rama thus:

Characters & Entities

• Lakṣmaṇa
• Sītā
• Rāma

FAQs

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

The verse frames service and companionship in exile: family members share hardship together, modeling dharmic solidarity and attentive care in difficult circumstances.

What is the narrative situation?

During the forest life, Sītā is engaged in simple ascetic duties (carrying water), while Lakṣmaṇa follows behind and begins speaking to Rāma (leading into praise of Bharata).

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Lakṣmaṇa’s devoted service and vigilance—he stays behind the pair, attentive to their needs and safety, embodying loyal fraternal duty.