Shloka 5.67.16

अभिज्ञानवृत्तान्त-प्रत्यायनम् (Token of Recognition and the Crow–Brahmāstra Episode)

Devanagari script

मोघमस्त्रं न शक्यं तु कर्तुमित्येव राघव।।।।भवांस्तस्याक्षि काकस्य हिनस्ति स्म स दक्षिणम्।

Transliteration

mogham astraṃ na śakyaṃ tu kartum ity eva rāghava | bhavāṃs tasyākṣi kākasya hinasti sma sa dakṣiṇam |

Translation

“A divine missile cannot be made fruitless,”—so, O Rāghava, it struck the crow’s right eye.

Context

'O Rama! since a divine weapon cannot be withdrawn, it did strike his right eye'.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma (Rāghava)
• the crow (kāka)
• divine missile/weapon (astra)

FAQs

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

One must act responsibly with power: once a righteous force is invoked, it carries consequences; dharma requires measured use and acceptance of the results.

What is the narrative situation?

Sītā explains that Rāma’s released missile could not be nullified, so it took a lesser penalty—blinding the crow’s right eye.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s integrity and disciplined use of force—he does not act capriciously, and the outcome is constrained by the law of the weapon.