Shloka 5.38.27
अभिज्ञानप्रदानम् — The Token of Recognition (Chūḍāmaṇi) and the Crow Episode Recalled
वीक्षमाणस्ततस्तं वै वायसं समुदैक्षत।।5.38.27।।नखैस्सरुधिरैस्तीक्ष्णैर्मामेवाभिमुखं स्थितम्।
kena te nāganāsoru vikṣataṃ vai stanāntaram || 5.38.26 ||
kaḥ krīḍati saroṣeṇa pañcavaktreṇa bhoginā |
“By whom, O woman of elephant-like thighs, has your bosom been wounded? Who is playing so recklessly with an enraged, five-hooded serpent?”
'Then looking around, you saw the crow facing me with sharp, blood-stained claws.
Before administering justice, dharma requires inquiry—seeking the truth of who caused harm and why, rather than acting blindly.
Rāma questions Sītā about the source of her injury, using a vivid warning metaphor.
Discernment and responsibility: even in anger, Rāma begins with fact-finding (satya-anveṣaṇa).