Shloka 22

आभरण-प्रत्यभिज्ञानम्

Recognition of Sītā’s Ornaments

Devanagari script

एवमुक्तस्तु रामेण लक्ष्मणो वाक्यमब्रवीत्।नाहं जानामि केयूरे नाहं जानामि कुण्डले4.6.22।।नूपुरे त्वभिजानामि नित्यं पादाभिवन्दनात्।

Transliteration

evam uktas tu rāmeṇa lakṣmaṇo vākyam abravīt |

nāhaṃ jānāmi keyūre nāhaṃ jānāmi kuṇḍale || 4.6.22 ||

nūpure tv abhijānāmi nityaṃ pādābhivandanāt |

Translation

Ketika Rama berkata demikian, Lakshmana menjawab: “Aku tidak mengenali kelat lengan, aku tidak mengenali anting; hanya gelang kaki yang kukenal, sebab setiap hari aku bersujud di kakinya.”

Word by Word

एवम्thus

उक्तःhaving been spoken to

तुthen/but

रामेणby Rama

लक्ष्मणःLakshmana

वाक्यम्words, statement

अब्रवीत्said

नnot

अहम्I

जानामिknow

केयूरेarmlets

नnot

अहम्I

जानामिknow

कुण्डलेearrings

नूपुरेanklets

तुhowever, but

अभिजानामिrecognize

नित्यम्always, daily

पादाभिवन्दनात्from (the habit of) bowing at the feet

Context

Thus addressed by Rama, Lakshmana replied, 'I recognise neither the armlets nor the earrings. I only recognise the anklets as I used to bow at her feet daily.'

Characters & Entities

Lakshmana

Rama

Sita

Kundala (earrings)

FAQs

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

Maryādā (propriety) within dharma: Lakshmana’s gaze and attention remain respectful; he recognizes only what he would naturally see while performing daily reverence.

What is the narrative situation?

Lakshmana is asked to identify Sita’s ornaments and explains which ones he can recognize and why.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Lakshmana’s modesty, restraint, and reverence toward Sita as an elder-like figure deserving respect.