Shloka 18

अभिज्ञानमणि

प्रदानम् — The Signet Jewel as Proof and the Consolation of Sita

Devanagari script

तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा सम्यक्सत्यं सुभाषितम्।जानकी बहुमेनेऽथ वचनं चेदमब्रवीत्।।।।

Transliteration

tasya tad-vacanaṃ śrutvā samyak satyaṃ subhāṣitam | jānakī bahu mene 'tha vacanaṃ cedam abravīt ||

Translation

അവന്റെ വാക്കുകൾ—യുക്തമായതും സത്യവും സുന്ദരമായി പറഞ്ഞതുമായവ—കേട്ട് ജാനകി അതിനെ ഏറെ മാനിച്ചു; പിന്നെ അവൾ ഇങ്ങനെ പറഞ്ഞു.

Word by Word

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन (Singular), पुल्लिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग-समर्थ (pronoun)

• तत्: that
• तत्: कर्म (Accusative object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग; विशेषणम् (qualifier)

• वचनम्: speech, words
• वचनम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial to main action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय-भावकृदन्त (Gerund/Absolutive), ‘having heard’

• सम्यक्: properly, rightly
• सम्यक्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम्यक् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण/विशेषणार्थ (adverbial ‘properly’)

• सत्यम्: true
• सत्यम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग; विशेषणम् (qualifying vacanam)

• सुभाषितम्: well-spoken
• सुभाषितम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु-भाषित (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्ताधारित)
• Form: द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग; विशेषणम्; समासः: उपपद-तत्पुरुष (सु + भाषित)

• जानकी: Janaki (Sita)
• जानकी: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जानकी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता), एकवचन, स्त्रीलिङ्ग

• बहुमेने: esteemed highly
• बहुमेने: क्रिया (Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: बहु + मन् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष? actually 3rd sg; परस्मैपद, एकवचन; धातु: मन् (to think/esteem) with उपसर्ग/प्रयोग ‘बहु-’ (to esteem greatly)

• अथ: then
• अथ: सम्बन्ध (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/सम्बन्धबोधक (then)

• वचनम्: words
• वचनम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग; विशेषणम् (qualifying vacanam)

• अब्रवीत्: said
• अब्रवीत्: क्रिया (Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

Context

On hearing the truthful, proper, pleasing words by Hanuman whom she held in great esteem, Sita said this:

Characters & Entities

• Sītā (Jānakī)
• Hanumān

FAQs

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

Dharma is satya and subhāṣita (truthful, well-formed speech): words that are true and appropriate deserve honor and become a moral support in crisis.

What is the narrative situation?

After Hanumān’s assurances, Sītā recognizes the truth and propriety of his speech and prepares to respond.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s discernment and respect for truth—she values speech that is both comforting and ethically sound.