Shloka 43

अभिज्ञानप्रदानम्

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

Devanagari script

एवमस्त्रविदां श्रेष्ठस्सत्यवान्बलवानपि।किमर्थमस्त्रं रक्षस्सु न योजयसि राघव।।5.38.43।।

Transliteration

evam astravidāṃ śreṣṭhaḥ satyavān balavān api | kim artham astraṃ rakṣaḥsu na yojayasi rāghava ||5.38.43||

Translation

ഇങ്ങനെ നീ അസ്ത്രവിദ്യയിൽ ശ്രേഷ്ഠനും സത്യവാനും ബലവാനും ആയിരിക്കെ—ഹേ രാഘവാ! രാക്ഷസന്മാരുടെ മേൽ അസ്ത്രം എന്തുകൊണ്ട് പ്രയോഗിക്കുന്നില്ല?

Word by Word

• evam: thus
• evam: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; manner adverb

• astra-vidām: of those skilled in weapons
• astra-vidām: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: astra (प्रातिपदिक) + vid (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), बहुवचन; ‘of weapon-knowers’ (genitive plural)

• śreṣṭhaḥ: the best
• śreṣṭhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śreṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; used predicatively for (tvam)

• satyavān: truthful
• satyavān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: satyavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; possessive adjective

• balavān: strong
• balavān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: balavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• api: even
• api: Sambandha/Emphasis (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात; concessive ‘even/also’

• kim-artham: why
• kim-artham: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kim (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव; interrogative adverb ‘for what purpose/why’

• astram: weapon
• astram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: astra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• rakṣaḥsu: among the demons
• rakṣaḥsu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rakṣas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), बहुवचन; locative ‘among/on the demons’

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात (negation particle)

• yojayasi: you employ/apply
• yojayasi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: yuj (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन

• rāghava: O Rāghava (Rama)
• rāghava: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāghava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8), एकवचन

Context

'Even though you are an expert in the use of weapons, truthful and strong. (Yet) whyare you not using weapons aganst the demons?'

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Hanumān
• Rāma (Rāghava)
• Rākṣasas

FAQs

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

It invokes kṣatriya-dharma: the righteous protector should use strength and skill to end oppression; truthfulness and power must culminate in timely protection of the vulnerable.

What is the narrative situation?

Sītā, distressed in captivity, questions the apparent delay: if Rāma is truly capable, why has he not acted decisively against the rākṣasas?

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s satya (truthfulness) and martial competence—virtues that Sītā expects to result in swift rescue.