Shloka 47

अभिज्ञानप्रदानम्

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

Devanagari script

यदि तौ पुरुषव्याघ्रौ वाय्वग्निसमतेजसौ।सुराणामपि दुर्धर्षौ किमर्थं मामुपेक्षतः।।5.38.47।।

Transliteration

yadi tau puruṣavyāghrau vāyvagnisamatejasau | surāṇām api durdharṣau kim arthaṃ mām upekṣataḥ ||5.38.47||

Translation

Wenn jene beiden Menschentiger mit der Kraft von Wind und Feuer erglühen und selbst für die Götter unbezwingbar sind — warum vernachlässigen sie mich dann?

Word by Word

• yadi: if
• yadi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yadi (अव्यय)
• Form: conditional particle

• tau: those two
• tau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदic)
• Form: सर्वनाम, प्रथमा (1), द्विवचन

• puruṣa-vyāghrau: two tigers among men
• puruṣa-vyāghrau: Apposition (समनाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puruṣa (प्रातिपदic) + vyāghra (प्रातिपदic)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), द्विवचन; ‘tigers among men’ (genitive/locative sense in tatpuruṣa)

• vāyu-agni-sama-tejasau: equal in splendor to wind and fire
• vāyu-agni-sama-tejasau: Karta-viśeṣaṇa (कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vāyu (प्रातिपदic) + agni (प्रातिपदic) + sama (प्रातिपदic) + tejas (प्रातिपदic)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), द्विवचन; ‘having power equal to wind and fire’

• surāṇām: of the gods
• surāṇām: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sura (प्रातिपदic)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), बहुवचन

• api: even
• api: Sambandha/Emphasis (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: particle ‘even’

• durdharṣau: unassailable
• durdharṣau: Karta-viśeṣaṇa (कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dur-dharṣa (प्रातिपदic)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), द्विवचन; ‘hard to assail’

• kim-artham: why
• kim-artham: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kim (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदic) + artha (प्रातिपदic)
• Form: interrogative adverb

• mām: me
• mām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदic)
• Form: सर्वनाम, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• upekṣataḥ: you two neglect
• upekṣataḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: upa-√īkṣ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), आत्मनेपद, मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), द्विवचन

Context

"Both Rama and Lakshmana are tigers among men who resemble wind and fire in power and have the unassailability of the gods. Wherefore are they disregarding me?.

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Hanumān
• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa
• Gods (Surāḥ)
• Wind (Vāyu)
• Fire (Agni)

FAQs

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

Dharma is measured by care for dependents: greatness is incomplete if it does not translate into protection of the afflicted.

What is the narrative situation?

Sītā contrasts the brothers’ legendary might with her continued abandonment in Laṅkā, expressing bewilderment and grief.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The brothers’ irresistible energy—yet the verse foregrounds Sītā’s expectation that such power serves compassion.