Shloka 67

अभिज्ञानप्रदानम्

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

Devanagari script

जीवितं धारयिष्यामि मासं दशरथात्मज।ऊर्ध्वं मासान्न जीवेयं सत्येनाहं ब्रवीमि ते।।5.38.67।।

Transliteration

jīvitaṃ dhārayiṣyāmi māsaṃ daśarathātmaja |

ūrdhvaṃ māsān na jīveyaṃ satyenāhaṃ bravīmi te ||5.38.67||

Translation

O Sohn Daśarathas, ich werde mein Leben einen Monat lang bewahren. Nach Ablauf dieses Monats werde ich nicht mehr leben — in Wahrheit sage ich dir dies.

Word by Word

• rāvaṇena: by Ravana
• rāvaṇena: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāvaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; कर्तृकरणभावे (agent in passive)

• uparuddhām: imprisoned
• uparuddhām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: uparuddha (प्रातिपदिक; √rudh धातोः क्त, उपसर्गः upa-)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्तः; ‘confined/blocked’

• mām: me
• mām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: सर्वनाम, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• nikṛtya: having wronged
• nikṛtya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: √kṛt (धातु) उपसर्गः ni-
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund): ‘having deceived/insulted’

• pāpa-karmaṇā: by the wicked-deed-doer
• pāpa-karmaṇā: Karaṇa/Hetu (करण/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāpa (प्रातिपदिक) + karman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समासः (‘pāpaṃ karma yasya’/‘pāpaṃ karma’); नपुंसकलिङ्गे तृतीया-एकवचन (instrumental/agentive description)

• trātum: to rescue
• trātum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/अनन्तरक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: √trā (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त infinitive: ‘to rescue’

• arhasi: you ought
• arhasi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √arh (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकारः, परस्मैपदम्, मध्यमपुरुषः, एकवचन; ‘you ought/are fit’

• vīra: O hero
• vīra: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vīra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• tvam: you
• tvam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: सर्वनाम, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• pātālāt: from Pātāla
• pātālāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pātāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचन; उपमान-प्रयोगे ‘from the underworld’

• iva: as if/like
• iva: Upamā (उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमानवाचक-अव्यय (particle of comparison)

• kauśikīm: Kauśikī (as an example)
• kauśikīm: Upameya/Karma (उपमेय/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kauśikī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; उपमेय/कर्मपदम् (mythic reference: Kauśikī)

Context

"By your efforts alone my husband will try for my release. You may tell these words to my heroic husband, Rama, again and again.

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Rāma
• Daśaratha
• Hanumān

FAQs

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

Satya as moral force: Sītā anchors her message in truth, making urgency ethically binding rather than manipulative.

What is the narrative situation?

Sītā sets a time limit for her endurance in captivity and asks that this truthful message be conveyed to Rāma.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s unwavering truthfulness and steadfastness under suffering.