Shloka 49

पम्पा

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

Devanagari script

श्यामा पद्मपलाशाक्षी मृदुपूर्वाभिभाषिणी।नूनं वसन्तमासाद्य परित्यक्ष्यति जीवितम्।।।।

Transliteration

śyāmā padma-palāśākṣī mṛdu-pūrvābhibhāṣiṇī | nūnaṃ vasantam āsādya parityakṣyati jīvitam ||

Translation

那位肤色幽黯、眼如莲瓣、素来先以柔语相告的女子，一旦遭逢春时，必将舍弃此生。

Word by Word

• श्यामा: the dark-complexioned lady
• श्यामा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śyāmā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन

• पद्मपलाशाक्षी: lotus-petal-eyed
• पद्मपलाशाक्षी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: padma + palāśa + akṣī (प्रातिपदिक); समास-प्रातिपदिक
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—पद्मपलाशे इव अक्षी यस्याः सा (lotus-petal-eyed)

• मृदुपूर्वाभिभाषिणी: gentle-speaking
• मृदुपूर्वाभिभाषिणी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mṛdu + pūrva + abhibhāṣiṇī (प्रातिपदिक); समास-प्रातिपदिक
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—मृदु-पूर्वम् अभिभाषते इति (one who speaks gently at first)

• नूनम्: surely
• नूनम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nūnam (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; निश्चयार्थे

• वसन्तम्: spring
• वसन्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vasanta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचन

• आसाद्य: having encountered
• आसाद्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ā + सद् (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृदन्त-अव्यय)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund); पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having reached/encountered)

• परित्यक्ष्यति: will abandon
• परित्यक्ष्यति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pari + त्यज् (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future); परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचन

• जीवितम्: life
• जीवितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jīvita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचन

Context

'Eager to speak with her gentle voice, my young beloved, blessed with eyes like lotus petals, will certainly give up her life, unable to enjoy the spring.

Characters & Entities

• Sita
• Lakshmana
• spring

FAQs

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

The verse underscores the ethical gravity of abduction: it can drive the innocent toward despair; dharma calls for timely rescue and protection of life.

What is the narrative situation?

Rama fears Sita’s grief will become fatal when spring—normally a season of union—arrives while she is captive.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Tenderness and gentleness (as remembered in Sita), and Rama’s deep attentiveness to her emotional nature.