Shloka 28

अभिज्ञानप्रदानम्

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

Devanagari script

पुत्त्रः किल स शक्रस्य वायसः पततां वरः।।5.38.28।।धरान्तरगतश्शीघ्रं पवनस्य गतौ समः।

Transliteration

putraḥ kila sa śakrasya vāyasaḥ patatāṃ varaḥ || 5.38.28 ||

dharāntaragataḥ śīghraṃ pavanasya gatau samaḥ |

Translation

Jener Rabe, so heißt es, war der Sohn Śakras (Indras), der Beste unter den Vögeln; schnell in seiner Bewegung durchmaß er weite Fernen, dem Wind an Geschwindigkeit gleich.

Word by Word

• putraḥ: son
• putraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: putra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• kila: it is said
• kila: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kila (अव्यय)
• Form: श्रुत्यर्थक-अव्यय (it is said)

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• śakrasya: of Indra
• śakrasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śakra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• vāyasaḥ: the crow
• vāyasaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāyasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘saḥ’ का विशेष्य

• patatām: of the flying ones (birds)
• patatām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: patat (√pat + शतृ)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त ‘पतत्’ (flying), षष्ठी, बहुवचन; ‘of birds’

• varaḥ: the best
• varaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• dharāntara-gataḥ: having gone far/through regions
• dharāntara-gataḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dharā (प्रातिपदिक) + antara (प्रातिपदिक) + gata (√gam + kta)
• Form: तत्पुरुष: ‘धरायाः अन्तरं गतः’ (gone through/into the intervening space/region); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘vāyasaḥ’ विशेषण

• śīghram: swiftly
• śīghram: Prakaraṇa (प्रकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: śīghram (अव्यय)
• Form: गति/कालवाचक-अव्यय (quickly)

• pavanasya: of the wind
• pavanasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pavana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• gatau: in movement/speed
• gatau: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• samaḥ: equal to
• samaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘vāyasaḥ’ विशेषण

Context

'Then you, the strong-armed and best among the wise, your eyeballs rolling in fury, made up your mind about the cruel crow.

Characters & Entities

• vāyasa (crow)
• Śakra (Indra)
• Pavana (Wind-god)

FAQs

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

High status or divine lineage does not exempt one from accountability; dharma applies equally to the powerful.

What is the narrative situation?

Sītā identifies the crow as extraordinary—Indra’s son and exceptionally swift.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Impartiality in justice: wrongdoing remains wrongdoing regardless of pedigree.