Shloka 3

अभिज्ञानप्रदानम्

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

Devanagari script

स्त्रीत्वं न तु समर्थं हि सागरं व्यतिवर्तितुम्।मामधिष्ठाय विस्तीर्णं शतयोजनमायतम्।।5.38.3।।

Transliteration

tatas tasmin mahābāhuḥ kopasaṃvartitekṣaṇaḥ || 5.38.29 ||

vāyase kṛtavān krūrāṃ matiṃ matimatāṃ varaḥ |

Translation

Alors le héros aux grands bras—le meilleur des sages—les yeux rétrécis et bouleversés par la colère, prit une résolution implacable contre ce corbeau.

Word by Word

• strītvam: being a woman/womanhood
• strītvam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: strī + tva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd), Singular; abstract noun ‘womanhood’

• na: not
• na: Nishedha (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; negation particle (निषेध)

• tu: but
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adversative particle (विरोध/तु)

• samartham: capable
• samartham: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: samartha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular; predicate adjective with strītvaṃ

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; emphatic particle (निपात)

• sāgaram: the ocean
• sāgaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sāgara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• vyativartitum: to cross
• vyativartitum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vyati√vṛt (धातु)
• Form: Infinitive (तुमुन्), avyaya; ‘to cross, to pass over’

• mām: me
• mām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; 1st-person pronoun

• adhiṣṭhāya: having mounted (upon)
• adhiṣṭhāya: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: adhi√sthā (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा/ल्यप्), avyaya; ‘having mounted/ascended (taking support of)’

• vistīrṇam: vast, spread out
• vistīrṇam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi√stṛ (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Neuter, Accusative, Singular; qualifying sāgaram

• śatayojanam: a hundred yojanas (in extent)
• śatayojanam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śata + yojana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular; द्विगु-समास (śataṃ yojanāni = hundred yojanas) used adjectivally

• āyatam: wide/long
• āyatam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: āyata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular; qualifying sāgaram

Context

"It may not be possible for a woman to cross on my back the vast ocean stretching over a hundred yojanas. It is not possible for a woman.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• vāyasa (crow)

FAQs

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

Dharma supports firm action against cruelty, but it must arise from discerning judgment, not mere rage.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma decides to act decisively against the crow after recognizing the offense.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Practical wisdom (viveka) paired with protective strength.