Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 38, Shloka 54

अभिज्ञानप्रदानम्

The Token of Recognition (Chūḍāmaṇi) and the Crow Episode Recalled

Devanagari script

ब्रूहि यद्राघवो वाच्यो लक्ष्मणश्च महाबलः।सुग्रीवो वापि तेजस्वी हरयोऽपि समागताः।।5.38.54।।

Transliteration

brūhi yad rāghavo vācyo lakṣmaṇaś ca mahābalaḥ | sugrīvo vāpi tejasvī harayo 'pi samāgatāḥ ||5.38.54||

Translation

Tell me what message should be conveyed—to Rāghava and mighty Lakṣmaṇa, to the radiant Sugrīva as well, and even to the assembled Vānara hosts.

Word by Word

• ब्रूहि: tell/say
• ब्रूहि: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• यत्: whatever (message)
• यत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; यद्-शब्दः—'whatever/that which' (object of brūhi)

• राघवः: Raghava (Rama)
• राघवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राघव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• वाच्यः: to be told/addressed
• वाच्यः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वच् (धातु) + यत् (कृदन्त)
• Form: यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (gerundive/passive necessity); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; अर्थे 'to be spoken/addressed'

• लक्ष्मणः: Lakshmana
• लक्ष्मणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्ष्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• महाबलः: mighty
• महाबलः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा + बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय

• सुग्रीवः: Sugriva
• सुग्रीवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुग्रीव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• वा: or/and also
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्प-अव्यय (disjunctive particle: or/also)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अप्यर्थ (also/even)

• तेजस्वी: brilliant, radiant
• तेजस्वी: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तेजस्विन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying sugrīvaḥ)

• हरयः: the monkeys (Vanaras)
• हरयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; 'also/even'

• समागताः: have assembled
• समागताः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + आ + गम् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past participle used predicatively); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

Context

"Communicate your message to mighty Rama and Lakshamana, to brilliant Sugriva and even the vanaras who gather there.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma (Rāghava)
• Lakṣmaṇa
• Sugrīva
• Vānara-s (Harayaḥ)

FAQs

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

Dūta-dharma (ethics of a messenger): Hanumān seeks a clear, accurate message to transmit faithfully, reflecting responsibility and truth in communication.

What is the narrative situation?

After reassuring Sītā, Hanumān invites her to send any message to Rāma, Lakṣmaṇa, Sugrīva, and the gathered Vānara allies.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Hanumān’s humility and reliability: he positions himself as a precise instrument of truthful transmission.