Shloka 48

पम्पा

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

Devanagari script

अथवा वर्तते तत्र वसन्तो यत्र मे प्रिया।किं करिष्यति सुश्रोणी सा तु निर्भर्त्सिता परैः।।।।

Transliteration

athavā vartate tatra vasanto yatra me priyā | kiṃ kariṣyati suśroṇī sā tu nirbhartsitā paraiḥ ||

Translation

又或许春天正停驻在我所爱之人那里；可那位腰肢娴美的女子，被仇敌威逼凌辱，又能如何？

Word by Word

• अथवा: or else
• अथवा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्योपपत्ति)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: athavā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (conjunction); विकल्पार्थे (or else)

• वर्तते: is present/exists
• वर्तते: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृत् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present); आत्मनेपद; प्रथमपुरुष (3rd); एकवचन

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb); देशवाचक (there)

• वसन्तः: spring
• वसन्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vasanta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन

• यत्र: where
• यत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yatra (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (relative adverb); where

• मे: my
• मे: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/Genitive); एकवचन; मम-आदेश (my)

• प्रिया: beloved (Sita)
• प्रिया: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: priyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन

• किम्: what
• किम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया/प्रथमा; एकवचन; प्रश्नार्थक (what)

• करिष्यति: will do
• करिष्यति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future); परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचन

• सुश्रोणी: the beautiful-hipped lady
• सुश्रोणी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: su + śroṇī (प्रातिपदिक); समास-प्रातिपदिक
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—सुश्रोणी (beautiful-hipped)

• सा: she
• सा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन

• तु: but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle); contrast/emphasis

• निर्भर्त्सिता: rebuked/threatened
• निर्भर्त्सिता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nir + bharts (धातु) + kta (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त-भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle); स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन

• परैः: by others/enemies
• परैः: Karana (करण/Agent-instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental); बहुवचन

Context

'Or, if there is spring where my beloved lives, what can that lady of beautiful hips do, threatened by enemies.

Characters & Entities

• Sita
• Lakshmana
• enemies (Rakshasas implied)
• spring

FAQs

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

Dharma demands resistance to tyranny: beauty and seasonal joy are irrelevant where coercion rules; the righteous must relieve those oppressed.

What is the narrative situation?

Rama considers an alternative: even if spring exists in Lanka (or wherever she is held), Sita cannot enjoy it due to enemy intimidation.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Moral urgency—Rama’s concern focuses on Sita’s safety and dignity, not aesthetic pleasure.