Shloka 5.38.57

अभिज्ञानप्रदानम् — The Token of Recognition (Chūḍāmaṇi) and the Crow Episode Recalled

Devanagari script

स्रजश्च सर्वरत्नानि प्रिया याश्च वराङ्गनाः।ऐश्वर्यं च विशालायां पृथिव्यामपि दुर्लभम्।।5.38.57।।पितरं मातरं चैव सम्मान्याभिप्रसाद्य च।अनुप्रव्रजितो रामं सुमित्रा येन सुप्रजाः।।5.38.58।।

Transliteration

srajaś ca sarvaratnāni priyā yāś ca varāṅganāḥ | aiśvaryaṃ ca viśālāyāṃ pṛthivyām api durlabham ||5.38.57||

pitaraṃ mātaraṃ caiva sammānyābhiprasādya ca | anupravrajito rāmaṃ sumitrā yena suprajāḥ ||5.38.58||

Translation

Garlands and every kind of jewel, beloved women, and even sovereignty—hard to attain upon this vast earth—he set all of these aside.

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Hanumān
• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa (implied as the one who renounced pleasures and followed)
• Sumitrā
• Daśaratha (implied by 'father')
• Kauśalyā (implied by 'mother', in the royal household context)

FAQs

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

Sevā and tyāga as dharma: the ideal of giving up personal luxury and desire to uphold duty—serving the righteous cause and supporting the elder brother in exile.

What is the narrative situation?

Sītā composes her message by recalling Lakṣmaṇa’s sacrifices: he renounced royal comforts, honored parents, and chose exile with Rāma.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Lakṣmaṇa’s loyalty and self-denial: devotion expressed through disciplined renunciation and respectful obedience to parents and dharma.