Shloka 43

पम्पा

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

Devanagari script

पश्य लक्ष्मण पुष्पाणि निष्फलानि भवन्ति मे। पुष्पभारसमृद्धानां वनानां शिशिरात्यये।।4.1.43।।

Transliteration

paśya lakṣmaṇa puṣpāṇi niṣphalāni bhavanti me | puṣpa-bhāra-samṛddhānāṃ vanānāṃ śiśirātyaye ||

Translation

看吧，拉克什曼那：冬尽之时，即便是繁花满载的森林之花，于我也成了无果无用。

Word by Word

• paśya: see
• paśya: Preraka (Injunction/प्रेरक)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √paś (धातु)
• Form: Loṭ (Imperative), Madhyama puruṣa, Ekavacana

• lakṣmaṇa: O Lakshmana
• lakṣmaṇa: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lakṣmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Sambodhana (Vocative), Ekavacana

• puṣpāṇi: flowers
• puṣpāṇi: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puṣpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga, Prathamā (Nominative), Bahuvacana

• niṣphalāni: fruitless/useless
• niṣphalāni: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: niṣphala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; predicate adjective of 'puṣpāṇi'

• bhavanti: become/are
• bhavanti: Kriyā (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhū (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (Present), Prathama puruṣa, Bahuvacana

• me: for me / to me
• me: Sambandha (Genitive/Dative relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Ṣaṣṭhī (Genitive) or Caturthī-dative sense by context; Ekavacana

• puṣpa-bhāra-samṛddhānām: of forests rich with loads of flowers
• puṣpa-bhāra-samṛddhānām: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: puṣpa (प्रातिपदिक) + bhāra (प्रातिपदिक) + samṛddha (√ṛdh, धातु + kta)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa compound; Genitive (Ṣaṣṭhī), Bahuvacana; qualifying 'vanānām'

• vanānām: of forests
• vanānām: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī (Genitive), Bahuvacana

• śiśira-atyaye: at winter's end
• śiśira-atyaye: Adhikaraṇa (Time/काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiśira (प्रातिपदिक) + atyaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa compound; Puṃliṅga, Saptamī (Locative), Ekavacana; time-locative

Characters & Entities

• Lakshmana
• forests
• spring (seasonal context)

FAQs

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

Dharma is not mere outward prosperity; without rightful companionship and inner steadiness, beauty and abundance lose their purpose—hinting at the primacy of righteous relationships.

What is the narrative situation?

Rama, separated from Sita, observes spring’s blossoms and tells Lakshmana that nature’s delights no longer console him.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Single-minded devotion—Rama’s joy is not taken by sensory pleasure when his duty to recover Sita remains unfulfilled.