Shloka 18

अभिज्ञानप्रदानम्

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

Devanagari script

त्वयाऽपहसिता चाहं क्रुद्धा संलज्जिता तदा।भक्षगृध्नेन काकेन दारिता त्वामुपागता।।5.38.18।।

Transliteration

tvayā 'pahasītā cāhaṃ kruddhā saṃlajjitā tadā |

bhakṣagṛdhnena kākena dāritā tvām upāgatā || 5.38.18 ||

Translation

നീ അപ്പോൾ എന്നെ പരിഹസിച്ചു; ഞാൻ ക്രുദ്ധയും ലജ്ജിതയുമായി. ഭക്ഷണലോഭിയായ കാക്ക കീറിപ്പറിച്ച എന്നെ, ശരണം തേടി ഞാൻ നിന്റെ അടുക്കൽ വന്നു.

Word by Word

• tvayā: by you
• tvayā: Karaṇa (करण) / Agent (कर्ता in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (युष्मद् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया, एकवचन

• apahasītā: mocked
• apahasītā: Karma (कर्म) (passive subject)
• Type: Verb
• Root: apa-√has (अप+हस् धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: कृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘was laughed at/mocked’

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

• aham: I
• aham: Karma (कर्म) (as passive subject with apahasītā)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (अस्मद् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा, एकवचन

• kruddhā: angry
• kruddhā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kruddhā (क्रुद्धा; from √krudh/क्रुध्)
• Form: कृदन्त (past participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• saṃlajjitā: ashamed, embarrassed
• saṃlajjitā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sam-√lajj (सम्+लज्ज् धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: कृदन्त (past participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• tadā: then
• tadā: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb of time)

• bhakṣa-gṛdhnena: greedy for food
• bhakṣa-gṛdhnena: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhakṣa (भक्ष) + gṛdhna (गृध्न प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास: भक्षे गृध्नः; पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; qualifying kākena

• kākena: by the crow
• kākena: Karaṇa (करण) / Agent (कर्ता in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāka (काक प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• dāritā: torn, wounded
• dāritā: Karma (कर्म) (passive subject)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dṛ (दृ/दारयति causative) + kta (क्त)
• Form: कृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘torn/wounded’

• tvām: to you
• tvām: Gati/Karma (गति/कर्म) (object of upāgatā)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (युष्मद् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया, एकवचन

• upāgatā: approached
• upāgatā: Kriyā (क्रिया) (predicate of aham)
• Type: Verb
• Root: upa-ā-√gam (उप+आ+गम् धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: कृदन्त (past active participle used adjectivally), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘having come/approached’

Context

"O queen! O lady of auspicious appearance! your words are most appropriate to and characteristic of a modest virtuous woman.

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Rāma
• crow (kāka)

FAQs

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

Śaraṇāgati: turning to the rightful protector in times of harm is dharmic; it also implies the protector’s duty to respond.

What is the narrative situation?

After being mocked and injured, Sītā seeks Rāma’s shelter, escalating the episode toward a demand for justice.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s trust in Rāma as protector and Rāma’s expected compassion and responsibility.