Shloka 17

अभिज्ञानदानम् / The Gift of Recognition

Sita’s Token and Resolve

Devanagari script

यत्तु रामो विजानीयादभिज्ञानमनिन्दिते।प्रीतिसञ्जननं तस्य भूयस्त्वं दातुमर्हसि।।5.40.17।।

Transliteration

yat tu rāmo vijānīyād abhijñānam anindite | prītisañjananaṃ tasya bhūyas tvaṃ dātum arhasi ||

Translation

O Tadellose, gib noch einmal ein Erkennungszeichen, durch das Rāma Gewissheit und Vertrauen gewinnt—etwas, das seine Freude umso mehr erweckt.

Word by Word

• यत्: that which
• यत्: Karma (कर्म) (of दातुम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा, एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक ‘that which’ (correlative)

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/अन्वयार्थक अव्यय (particle: ‘but/indeed’)

• रामः: Rama
• रामः: Karta (कर्ता) (of विजानीयात्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• विजानीयात्: might recognize
• विजानीयात्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• अभिज्ञानम्: token of recognition
• अभिज्ञानम्: Karma (कर्म) (of विजानीयात्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभिज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अनिन्दिते: O blameless one
• अनिन्दिते: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनिन्दिता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• प्रीतिसञ्जननम्: producer of joy
• प्रीतिसञ्जननम्: Karma (कर्म) (apposition to यत्/अभिज्ञानम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रीति + सञ्जनन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (प्रीतेः सञ्जननम्)

• तस्य: for him / of him
• तस्य: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठीसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; refers to Rama

• भूयः: again / further
• भूयः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भूयस् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; पुनरर्थक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: again/more)

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (कर्ता) (of अर्हसि)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा, एकवचन

• दातुम्: to give
• दातुम्: Kriyārtha (क्रियार्थ)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु) + तुमुन् (कृदन्त)
• Form: तुमुनन्त (infinitive) ‘to give’

• अर्हसि: you ought / it is proper
• अर्हसि: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्ह् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

Context

"O unimpeachable lady! give one more identification which would make him more happy".

Characters & Entities

• Hanumān
• Sītā
• Rāma

FAQs

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

Satya and responsible communication: Hanumān seeks a verifiable token so the message is authenticated, preventing deception and ensuring truthful transmission.

What is the narrative situation?

Before returning, Hanumān requests a recognition-sign from Sītā so Rāma can be fully assured of the meeting and her identity.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Pramāṇa-buddhi (evidence-based prudence): careful verification in service of truth and duty.