Shloka 15

अभिज्ञानवृत्तान्त-प्रत्यायनम्

Token of Recognition and the Crow–Brahmāstra Episode

Devanagari script

पुनरेवागतस्त्रस्तस्त्वत्सकाशमरिंदम।स तं निपतितं भूमौ शरण्यश्शरणागतम्।।।।वधार्हमपि काकुत्स्थ कृपया पर्यपालयः।

Transliteration

punar evāgataḥ trastaḥ tvat-sakāśam arindama | sa taṃ nipatitaṃ bhūmau śaraṇyaḥ śaraṇāgatam || vadhārham api kākutstha kṛpayā paryapālayaḥ |

Translation

O Bezwinger der Feinde, zitternd kehrte er wieder zu dir zurück. Als er zu Boden fiel und Zuflucht suchte, hast du, der du Schutz gewährst, ihn aus Mitgefühl bewahrt, obwohl er des Todes würdig war, o Kakutstha.

Word by Word

• punar: again
• punar: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: punar (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; पुनरावृत्तिवाचक (adverb)

• eva: indeed
• eva: Emphasis (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारणार्थक

• āgataḥ: having come
• āgataḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-gam (धातु) + kta (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; (saḥ) implied

• trastaḥ: frightened
• trastaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tras (धातु) + kta (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (āgataḥ/saḥ)

• tvat-sakāśam: to your presence
• tvat-sakāśam: Gati/Karma (गति-कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvat (युष्मद्-प्रातिपदिक) + sakāśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समासः (tava sakāśam); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd) एकवचन; गत्यर्थे कर्म (goal as accusative)

• ariṃdama: O subduer of enemies
• ariṃdama: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ari (प्रातिपदिक) + dama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समासः (yo 'rīn damayati saḥ); पुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन (Vocative/8th) एकवचन

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st) एकवचन

• tam: him
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd) एकवचन; कर्म

• nipatitam: fallen
• nipatitam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ni-pat (धातु) + kta (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (tam)

• bhūmau: on the ground
• bhūmau: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhūmi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; सप्तमी (7th) एकवचन; अधिकरण

• śaraṇyaḥ: protector / refuge-giver
• śaraṇyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śaraṇya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st) एकवचन; विशेषणम् (saḥ = rāmaḥ)

• śaraṇa-āgatam: one who came for refuge
• śaraṇa-āgatam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śaraṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + āgata (कृदन्त)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समासः (śaraṇaṃ āgataḥ); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (tam)

• vadhārham: deserving to be slain
• vadhārham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vadha (प्रातिपदिक) + arha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समासः (vadhasya arhaḥ); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (tam)

• api: even
• api: Sambandha (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अपि-निपात (concessive ‘even’)

• kākutstha: O Kakutstha (Rama)
• kākutstha: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kākutstha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन (Vocative/8th) एकवचन

• kṛpayā: out of compassion
• kṛpayā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṛpā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; तृतीया (3rd) एकवचन; करण (instrument)

• paryapālayaḥ: you protected / spared
• paryapālayaḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pari-pā (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/past), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Context

'O destroyer of enemies! the crow came back again to you trembling seeking protection from you and fell on the ground. Even though it deserved to be slayed, you saved him out of compassion.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• the crow (kāka)
• earth/ground (bhūmi)

FAQs

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

Dharma includes protecting one who sincerely seeks refuge; punishment may be deserved, yet compassion and restraint become righteous when the offender submits and repents.

What is the narrative situation?

In the crow-episode, the offender returns to Rāma in fear, falls down in surrender, and is spared—establishing Rāma’s refuge-granting nature.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s compassion (kṛpā) joined with principled protection of the surrendered (śaraṇāgata-rakṣaṇa).