Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 65, Shloka 22
सीतावृत्तान्तनिवेदनम् / Report of Sītā’s Condition and Tokens of Recognition
एष चूडामणिश्श्रीमान् मया सुपरिरक्षितः।मनश्शिलायास्तिलको गण्डपार्श्वे निवेशितः।।।।त्वया प्रणष्ठे तिलके तं किल स्मर्तुमर्हसि।
eṣa cūḍāmaṇiḥ śrīmān mayā suparirakṣitaḥ |
manaḥśilāyās tilako gaṇḍa-pārśve niveśitaḥ ||
tvayā praṇaṣṭhe tilake taṃ kila smartum arhasi |
“This splendid crest-jewel (cūḍāmaṇi) has been kept safe by me with great care. And the red tilaka made from manaḥśilā, placed upon my cheek—when that mark was lost through your absence—do remind him of it; it is right that he should remember.”
'This auspicious (jewel) Chudamani has been preserved by me very carefully. Remind him of the decorative red mark he painted with a stone pigment on my forehead, indeed, it is proper to remind him of this.
FAQs
Dharma is safeguarded by satya and reliable signs: the jewel and shared memories function as truthful authentication, preventing false claims and preserving trust.
Sita gives Hanuman her cūḍāmaṇi and asks him to remind Rama of an intimate, identifying detail (the manaḥśilā tilaka).
Sita’s carefulness and fidelity: she preserves a precious token and uses it to affirm truth and constancy in her bond with Rama.