Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 38, Shloka 58

अभिज्ञानप्रदानम्

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

Devanagari script

स्रजश्च सर्वरत्नानि प्रिया याश्च वराङ्गनाः।ऐश्वर्यं च विशालायां पृथिव्यामपि दुर्लभम्।।5.38.57।।पितरं मातरं चैव सम्मान्याभिप्रसाद्य च।अनुप्रव्रजितो रामं सुमित्रा येन सुप्रजाः।।5.38.58।।

Transliteration

srajaś ca sarvaratnāni priyā yāś ca varāṅganāḥ | aiśvaryaṃ ca viśālāyāṃ pṛthivyām api durlabham ||5.38.57||

pitaraṃ mātaraṃ caiva sammānyābhiprasādya ca | anupravrajito rāmaṃ sumitrā yena suprajāḥ ||5.38.58||

Translation

Garlands, jewels of every kind, beloved women, and even sovereignty—hard to attain across this vast earth—(all these) were set aside by him. Having duly honored and pleased father and mother, he accompanied Rāma into exile; through him Sumitrā is truly blessed with worthy offspring.

Word by Word

• आनुकूल्येन: with devotion/favor
• आनुकूल्येन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आनुकूल्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; भाववाचक

• धर्मात्मा: the righteous one
• धर्मात्मा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि (धर्मः आत्मा यस्य)

• त्यक्त्वा: having given up
• त्यक्त्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: त्यज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund); 'having abandoned'

• सुखम्: comfort
• सुखम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अनुत्तमम्: unsurpassed
• अनुत्तमम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनुत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying sukham)

• अनुगच्छति: follows
• अनुगच्छति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु + गम् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• काकुत्स्थम्: Kakutstha (Rama)
• काकुत्स्थम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काकुत्स्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• भ्रातरम्: brother
• भ्रातरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भ्रातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; काकुत्स्थम् इति विशेषण/अप्पोजिशन

• पालयन्: serving/protecting
• पालयन्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पाल् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त (present active participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; 'while serving/protecting'

• वने: in the forest
• वने: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Hanumān
• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa (implied as the one who renounced pleasures and followed)
• Sumitrā
• Daśaratha (implied by 'father')
• Kauśalyā (implied by 'mother', in the royal household context)

FAQs

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

Sevā and tyāga as dharma: the ideal of giving up personal luxury and desire to uphold duty—serving the righteous cause and supporting the elder brother in exile.

What is the narrative situation?

Sītā composes her message by recalling Lakṣmaṇa’s sacrifices: he renounced royal comforts, honored parents, and chose exile with Rāma.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Lakṣmaṇa’s loyalty and self-denial: devotion expressed through disciplined renunciation and respectful obedience to parents and dharma.