Shloka 37
अभिज्ञानप्रदानम्
The Token of Recognition (Chūḍāmaṇi) and the Crow Episode Recalled
हिनस्तु दक्षिणाक्षि त्वच्छर इत्यथ सोऽब्रवीत्।।5.38.36।।ततस्तस्याक्षि काकस्य हिनस्ति स्म स दक्षिणम्।दत्त्वा स दक्षिणं नेत्रं प्राणेभ्यः परिरक्षितः।।5.38.37।।
hinastu dakṣiṇākṣi tvacchara ity atha so 'bravīt || 5.38.36 ||
tatas tasyākṣi kākasya hinasti sma sa dakṣiṇam |
dattvā sa dakṣiṇaṃ netraṃ prāṇebhyaḥ parirakṣitaḥ || 5.38.37 ||
Da sprach er: „Dein Pfeil soll mein rechtes Auge vernichten.“ Darauf traf Rāma das rechte Auge der Krähe; indem sie dieses rechte Auge darbrachte, wurde ihr Leben verschont.
'Then that crow said, 'let my right eye be blinded'. you then hit the right eye of the crow'. Thus the crow offered his right eye and saved himself.
FAQs
Dharma balances justice with mercy: wrongdoing requires consequence, yet surrender allows a mitigated penalty that preserves life.
To prevent the brahmāstra from becoming futile while honoring refuge, the crow proposes a penalty—loss of one eye—in exchange for survival.
Rāma’s measured justice and the crow’s acceptance of accountability (taking punishment rather than evading it).