Shloka 14

सीतान्वेषणविलापः

Rama’s Lament and Search for Sita

Devanagari script

अथवाऽर्जुन शंस त्वं प्रियां तामर्जुनप्रियाम्।जनकस्य सुता भीरुर्यदि जीवति वा न वा।।3.60.14।।

Transliteration

athavā 'rjuna śaṃsa tvaṃ priyāṃ tām arjuna-priyām | janakasya sutā bhīruḥ yadi jīvati vā na vā || 3.60.14 ||

Translation

又或者，阿周那树（Arjuna）啊，请你告诉我那位挚爱、亦喜阿周那之人——阇那迦的怯弱之女：她还活着吗，还是已不在？

Word by Word

• अथवा: or else
• अथवा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: athavā (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक समुच्चय (disjunctive particle: or/else)

• अर्जुन: O Arjuna (tree)
• अर्जुन: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: arjuna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन (Vocative singular); वृक्षविशेषः (Arjuna tree)

• शंस: tell, declare
• शंस: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śaṃs (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन (2nd person singular)

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Kartā (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, प्रथमा, एकवचन (Nominative singular)

• प्रियाम्: beloved (woman)
• प्रियाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: priyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (Feminine, Accusative singular)

• ताम्: that (her)
• ताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (Accusative singular)

• अर्जुनप्रियाम्: dear to the Arjuna (tree)
• अर्जुनप्रियाम्: Karma-viśeṣaṇa (कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: arjuna + priyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (अर्जुनस्य प्रिया), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (Feminine, Accusative singular)

• जनकस्य: of Janaka
• जनकस्य: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठीसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: janaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन (Masculine, Genitive singular)

• सुता: daughter
• सुता: Kartā (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sutā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (Feminine, Nominative singular)

• भीरुः: timid
• भीरुः: Kartṛviśeṣaṇa (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhīru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (Feminine, Nominative singular)

• यदि: if
• यदि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yadi (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; शर्तार्थक (conditional particle: if)

• जीवति: lives
• जीवति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: jīv (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन (3rd person singular)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक (or)

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध (negation)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक (or)

Context

This Kakubha tree rich with tender leaves and flowers (perhaps)knows Maithili whose thighs are beautiful like the trunk of the Kakubha tree.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Sītā
• Janaka

FAQs

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

Dharma is the seriousness of marital and protective duty: Rāma frames the crisis in terms of Sītā’s very life, showing that safeguarding the innocent is a paramount obligation.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma, unable to find Sītā, asks the arjuna tree whether she is alive, revealing the depth of his fear after the abduction.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Compassionate protectiveness—he identifies Sītā as ‘bhīru’ (gentle/timid), highlighting his concern for the vulnerable.