Shloka 11

आभरण-प्रत्यभिज्ञानम्

Recognition of Sītā’s Ornaments

Devanagari script

आत्मना पञ्चमं मां हि दृष्ट्वा शैलतटे स्थितम्।उत्तरीयं तया त्यक्तं शुभान्याभरणानि च4.6.11।।

Transliteration

ātmanā pañcamaṃ māṃ hi dṛṣṭvā śailataṭe sthitam |

uttarīyaṃ tayā tyaktaṃ śubhāny ābharaṇāni ca ||

Translation

M’ayant aperçu comme un cinquième témoin, assis sur le flanc de la montagne, elle laissa tomber son voile supérieur, ainsi que ses ornements de bon augure.

Word by Word

• tāni: those (things)
• tāni: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• asmābhiḥ: by us
• asmābhiḥ: Karaṇa/Agent-in-passive (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया, बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• gṛhītāni: taken/collected
• gṛhītāni: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √grah (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• nihitāni: placed/kept
• nihitāni: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dhā (नि+धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• rāghava: O Raghava
• rāghava: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāghava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• ānayiṣyāmi: I will bring
• ānayiṣyāmi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā√nī (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• tāni: them
• tāni: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• pratyabhijñātum: to recognize
• pratyabhijñātum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: prati-√abhijñā (धातु) + तुमुन्
• Form: तुमुनन्त (infinitive)

• arhasi: you ought/are able
• arhasi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √arh (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

Context

'Seeing me as the fifth member seated on a mountain she dropped down the auspicious ornaments (bundled) in her veil;

Characters & Entities

• Maithili (Sita)
• mountain (śaila)
• uttarīya (upper cloth/veil)
• ornaments (ābharaṇa)

FAQs

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

Presence of mind under संकट (crisis): Sītā’s act preserves truth and evidence, enabling dharmic rescue efforts through reliable identification.

What is the narrative situation?

During the abduction, Sītā notices observers on the mountainside and drops her cloth and ornaments to leave a trace.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s courage and practical wisdom—acting strategically even while in distress.