Shloka 42

अभिज्ञानप्रदानम्

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

Devanagari script

आनृशंस्यं परो धर्मस्तवत्त्त ऐव मया श्रुतः।जानामि त्वां महावीर्यं महोत्साहं महाबलम्।।5.38.41।।अपारपारमक्षोभ्यं गाम्भीर्यात्सागरोपमम्।भर्तारं ससमुद्राया धरण्या वासवोपमम्।।5.38.42।।

Transliteration

apārapāram akṣobhyaṃ gāmbhīryāt sāgaropamam | bhartāraṃ sa-samudrāyā dharaṇyā vāsavopamam ||5.38.42||

Translation

ഇരുകരകളിലും അതിരില്ലാത്തവൻ, അക്ഷോഭ്യൻ, സമുദ്രംപോലെ ഗാംഭീര്യമുള്ളവൻ—അങ്ങനെ ഞാൻ അവനെ അറിയുന്നു. സമുദ്രങ്ങളോടുകൂടിയ ഭൂമിയുടെ ഭർത്താവ്, വാസവൻ (ഇന്ദ്രൻ) സമാനൻ അവൻ.

Word by Word

• apāra-pāram: boundless, shoreless
• apāra-pāram: Karma-viśeṣaṇa (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-pāra (प्रातिपदिक) + pāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; dvandva used adjectivally ‘(having) no further shore and (no) near shore’ = boundless

• akṣobhyam: unshakable
• akṣobhyam: Karma-viśeṣaṇa (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a (उपसर्ग/नञ्) + kṣobhya (प्रातिपदिक; from √kṣubh धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; ‘not to be shaken’

• gāmbhīryāt: by (its) depth
• gāmbhīryāt: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gāmbhīrya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5), एकवचन; ablative of cause/measure ‘by/with (its) depth’

• sāgara-upamam: like the ocean
• sāgara-upamam: Karma-viśeṣaṇa (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sāgara (प्रातिपदिक) + upama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; उपमान-तत्पुरुष ‘ocean-like’

• bhartāram: lord, protector
• bhartāram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhartṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• sa-samudrāyāḥ: together with the seas
• sa-samudrāyāḥ: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (अव्यय/उपसर्गसदृश) + samudra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), एकवचन; avyayībhāva ‘together with the seas’ qualifying dharaṇyāḥ

• dharaṇyāḥ: of the earth
• dharaṇyāḥ: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharaṇī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), एकवचन

• vāsava-upamam: like Indra
• vāsava-upamam: Karma-viśeṣaṇa (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vāsava (प्रातिपदिक) + upama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; ‘like Vāsava (Indra)’ qualifying bhartāram

Context

'O my supreme lord I know you are kind, righteous, valiant, vigroous, mighty. You are boundless, calm and deep like the ocean. You are lord of earth and the seas and compeer of Vasava. I have heard from you that motiveless compassion is the best way to make one righteous.

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Hanumān
• Rāma
• Vāsava (Indra)
• Ocean (Sāgara)
• Earth (Dharaṇī)

FAQs

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

Dharma is framed as steadiness and depth: true sovereignty is unshakable self-mastery (akṣobhyatā) and profound responsibility as protector of the world.

What is the narrative situation?

Sītā continues praising Rāma’s greatness before questioning why such a capable protector has not yet ended the rākṣasa threat and rescued her.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s gravity and composure—power that remains calm and stable, like the ocean.