Shloka 56

अभिज्ञानप्रदानम्

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

Devanagari script

कौसल्या लोकभर्तारं सुषुवे यं मनस्विनी।तं ममार्थे सुखं पृच्छ शिरसा चाभिवादय।।5.38.56।।

Transliteration

kausalyā lokabhartāraṃ suṣuve yaṃ manasvinī | taṃ mamārthe sukhaṃ pṛccha śirasā cābhivādaya ||5.38.56||

Translation

In meinem Namen neige das Haupt und erweise Verehrung; erkundige dich nach dem Wohlergehen dessen, den die edle Kauśalyā gebar — des Erhalters der Welt.

Word by Word

• कौसल्या: Kausalya
• कौसल्या: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कौसल्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• लोकभर्तारम्: protector of the world
• लोकभर्तारम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक + भर्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (लोकस्य भर्तारम्)

• सुषुवे: gave birth to
• सुषुवे: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सू (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद

• यम्: whom
• यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; सम्बन्धे (relative pronoun referring to tam)

• मनस्विनी: high-minded
• मनस्विनी: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मनस्विन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying kausalyā)

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• मम: my
• मम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन

• अर्थे: for the sake (of)
• अर्थे: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative), एकवचन; 'for the sake of' (idiomatic with genitive)

• सुखम्: welfare
• सुखम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; 'welfare' as object of pṛccha

• पृच्छ: ask (inquire)
• पृच्छ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रच्छ् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• शिरसा: with (your) head; by bowing
• शिरसा: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• अभिवादय: salute
• अभिवादय: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि + वद् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

Context

"Bow to Rama and offer salutations on my behalf. Inquiries concerning his welfare should be addressed to Rama, whom virtuous Kausalya bore as a son.

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Hanumān
• Rāma
• Kauśalyā

FAQs

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

Maryādā (propriety) and respectful conduct: even in crisis, Sītā upholds dharmic etiquette—salutation, inquiry after welfare, and honoring elders and rightful relationships.

What is the narrative situation?

Sītā begins giving Hanumān a message to carry back, instructing him to salute Rāma and inquire about his well-being on her behalf.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s dignity and relational fidelity: she maintains reverence toward Rāma and remembrance of Kauśalyā’s noble motherhood.