Shloka 19

अभिज्ञानदानम् / The Gift of Recognition

Sita’s Token and Resolve

Devanagari script

स तं मणिवरं गृह्य श्रीमान्प्लवगसत्तमः।।5.40.19।।प्रणम्य शिरसा देवीं गमनायोपचक्रमे।

Transliteration

sa taṃ maṇivaraṃ gṛhya śrīmān plavagasattamaḥ ||5.40.19||

praṇamya śirasā devīṃ gamanāyopacakrame |

Translation

Der ruhmreiche Beste der Vānara nahm das erlesene Juwel; er neigte ehrfürchtig das Haupt vor der göttergleichen Dame und machte sich zum Aufbruch bereit.

Word by Word

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तम्: that
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; refers to मणिवरम्

• मणिवरम्: excellent jewel
• मणिवरम्: Karma (कर्म) (object of गृह्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मणि + वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (वरः मणिः)

• गृह्य: having taken
• गृह्य: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ग्रह् (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृदन्त)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययभावकृदन्त (gerund) ‘having taken’

• श्रीमान्: illustrious
• श्रीमान्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रीमत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifies प्लवगसत्तमः)

• प्लवगसत्तमः: best of monkeys
• प्लवगसत्तमः: Karta (कर्ता) (apposition to सः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्लवग + सत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (प्लवगानां सत्तमः)

• प्रणम्य: having bowed
• प्रणम्य: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + नम् (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृदन्त)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त (gerund) ‘having bowed’

• शिरसा: with (his) head
• शिरसा: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• देवीम्: the goddess (Sita)
• देवीम्: Karma (कर्म) (object of प्रणम्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• गमनाय: for departure
• गमनाय: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गमन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन; प्रयोजनार्थ (for the purpose of going)

• उपचक्रमे: began / set about
• उपचक्रमे: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप + क्रम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद

Context

Seeing Hanuman eager to leap, enlarging his body quickly, she appeared pitiable with her face filled with tears and throat choked.

Characters & Entities

• Hanumān
• Sītā
• maṇi (jewel token)

FAQs

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

Respectful conduct toward the virtuous and afflicted is dharma; Hanumān’s reverence shows humility and service aligned with righteousness.

What is the narrative situation?

After receiving Sītā’s identifying jewel, Hanumān pays homage and prepares to leave Aśoka-vana to return to Rāma.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Hanumān’s humility (vinaya) and disciplined service (sevā) in carrying out his mission.