Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 40, Shloka 4

अभिज्ञानदानम् / The Gift of Recognition

Sita’s Token and Resolve

Devanagari script

अभिज्ञानं च रामस्य दद्या हरिगणोत्तम।क्षिप्तामिषीकां काकस्य कोपादेकाक्षिशातनीम्।।5.40.4।।

Transliteration

abhijñānaṃ ca rāmasya dadyā harigaṇottama | kṣiptāmiṣīkāṃ kākasya kopād ekākṣiśātanīm ||5.40.4||

Translation

ഹരിഗണോത്തമനേ! ശ്രീരാമനു ഈ അഭിജ്ഞാനം നൽകുക—കോപത്തിൽ അദ്ദേഹം പുല്ലിന്റെ മൂർച്ചയുള്ള തുമ്പ് എറിഞ്ഞപ്പോൾ കാക്കയെ തട്ടി അതിന്റെ ഒരു കണ്ണ് നശിച്ച ആ സംഭവത്തെ ഓർമ്മിപ്പിക്കുക.

Word by Word

• अभिज्ञानम्: a token, recognition sign
• अभिज्ञानम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभिज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Nom/Acc, Singular)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunctive)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• रामस्य: of Rama
• रामस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Genitive, Singular)

• दद्याः: you should give
• दद्याः: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद (you should give)

• हरिगणोत्तम: O best of the vanara hosts
• हरिगणोत्तम: सम्बोधन (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि-गण-उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Vocative, Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (हरिगणस्य उत्तमः)

• क्षिप्त: thrown, released
• क्षिप्त: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षिप् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (agreeing with इषीकाम्)

• अमिषीकाम्: a blade of grass
• अमिषीकाम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अमिषीका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Feminine, Accusative, Singular)

• काकस्य: of the crow
• काकस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Genitive, Singular)

• कोपात्: from anger
• कोपात्: हेतु (Hetu/Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कोप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Ablative, Singular)

• एकाक्षिशातनीम्: blinding one eye
• एकाक्षिशातनीम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक-अक्षि-शातनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Feminine, Accusative, Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (एकस्य अक्ष्णः शातनी)

Context

"O best leader of vanaras! remind Rama about the incident of the release of a blade of grass in anger blinding one of the eyes of the crow narrated to you.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Sītā
• Hanumān
• crow (kāka)

FAQs

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

Dharma here is expressed as truthful recognition and fidelity: Sītā ensures that Rāma receives a reliable identifying sign (abhijñāna) so that truth is established beyond doubt and right action can follow.

What is the narrative situation?

In Aśoka-vana, Sītā is instructing Hanumān on what message and proof to deliver to Rāma; she proposes recalling a private incident as a confirmation of her identity and their bond.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s steadfastness and clarity (satya-niṣṭhā): even in captivity she focuses on accurate communication and rightful means to reunite with Rāma.