Shloka 11

अभिज्ञानदानम् / The Gift of Recognition

Sita’s Token and Resolve

Devanagari script

घोरो राक्षसराजोऽयं दृष्टिश्च न सुखा मयि।त्वां च श्रुत्वा विपद्यन्तं न जीवेयमहं क्षणम्।।5.40.11।।

Transliteration

ghoro rākṣasarājo ’yaṃ dṛṣṭiś ca na sukhā mayi | tvāṃ ca śrutvā vipadyantaṃ na jīveyam ahaṃ kṣaṇam ||

Translation

Furchtbar ist dieser König der Rākṣasas, und sein Blick auf mich ist nicht heilsam. Und hörte ich, dass du ins Unglück geraten bist, so lebte ich nicht einmal einen Augenblick.

Word by Word

• घोरः: fearsome
• घोरः: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घोर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (Masculine, Nominative, Singular)

• राक्षसराजः: king of rakshasas
• राक्षसराजः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस-राज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (Masculine, Nominative, Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (राक्षसानां राजा)

• अयम्: this
• अयम्: कर्ता (Apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (Pronoun, Nominative, Singular)

• दृष्टिः: gaze, look
• दृष्टिः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दृष्टि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (Feminine, Nominative, Singular)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunctive)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• न: not
• न: निषेध (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय (negation)

• सुखा: pleasant
• सुखा: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (Feminine, Nominative, Singular; agreeing with दृष्टिः)

• मयि: towards me/in me
• मयि: अधिकरण (Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचन (Locative, Singular)

• त्वाम्: you
• त्वाम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Accusative, Singular)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunctive)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: पूर्वकाल (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund)

• विपद्यन्तम्: falling into calamity
• विपद्यन्तम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि-पद् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (agreeing with त्वाम्)

• न: not
• न: निषेध (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय (negation)

• जीवेयम्: I would live
• जीवेयम्: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जीव् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद (potential/conditional sense)

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन (Nominative, Singular)

• क्षणम्: a moment
• क्षणम्: कालाधिकरण (Temporal extent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Accusative, Singular)

Context

"The demon king is frightful. He looks at me with immoral (lusty) eyes. I do not wish to live even for a moment after hearing about the adversities (you have faced)."

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Rāvaṇa
• Rākṣasas
• Rāma

FAQs

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

Dharma is contrasted: Rāvaṇa’s adharmic intent (unwholesome gaze) versus Sītā’s moral integrity and truthfulness about danger and suffering.

What is the narrative situation?

Sītā explains the severity of her threat in Laṅkā and expresses that news of Rāma’s harm would end her will to live.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Chastity and moral firmness, alongside deep devotion and empathy for Rāma’s suffering.