Shloka 22

सीतावृत्तान्तनिवेदनम् / Report of Sītā’s Condition and Tokens of Recognition

Devanagari script

एष चूडामणिश्श्रीमान् मया सुपरिरक्षितः।मनश्शिलायास्तिलको गण्डपार्श्वे निवेशितः।।।।त्वया प्रणष्ठे तिलके तं किल स्मर्तुमर्हसि।

Transliteration

eṣa cūḍāmaṇiḥ śrīmān mayā suparirakṣitaḥ |

manaḥśilāyās tilako gaṇḍa-pārśve niveśitaḥ ||

tvayā praṇaṣṭhe tilake taṃ kila smartum arhasi |

Translation

“ഈ ശ്രീമാനായ ചൂഡാമണി ഞാൻ വളരെ പരിശ്രമത്തോടെ സുരക്ഷിതമായി സൂക്ഷിച്ചിട്ടുണ്ട്. മനശ്ശിലയിൽ നിന്നുള്ള ചുവന്ന തിലകം, കവിളിന്റെ വശത്ത് വെച്ചിരുന്നതും—നിന്റെ വിരഹം മൂലം ആ അടയാളം നഷ്ടമായപ്പോൾ, അതിനെ അവനോട് ഓർമ്മിപ്പിക്കണം; അവൻ സ്മരിക്കുന്നത് യുക്തമാണ്.”

Word by Word

eṣaḥthis (is)

cūḍāmaṇiḥcrest-jewel (Chudamani)

śrīmānsplendid; auspicious

mayāby me

suparirakṣitaḥcarefully preserved

manaḥśilāyāḥof red-arsenic pigment (manaḥśilā)

tilakaḥforehead-mark

gaṇḍapārśveon the cheek-side (of the face)

niveśitaḥplaced; set

tvayāby you

praṇaṣṭewhen (it was) lost

tilakein/with the tilaka (being)

tamthat (person)

kilaindeed; as is said

smartumto remember

arhasiyou ought; you are fit

Context

'This auspicious (jewel) Chudamani has been preserved by me very carefully. Remind him of the decorative red mark he painted with a stone pigment on my forehead, indeed, it is proper to remind him of this.

Characters & Entities

Sita

Rama

Hanuman

Cūḍāmaṇi (crest-jewel)

Manaḥśilā (red pigment)

Tilaka

FAQs

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

Dharma is safeguarded by satya and reliable signs: the jewel and shared memories function as truthful authentication, preventing false claims and preserving trust.

What is the narrative situation?

Sita gives Hanuman her cūḍāmaṇi and asks him to remind Rama of an intimate, identifying detail (the manaḥśilā tilaka).

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sita’s carefulness and fidelity: she preserves a precious token and uses it to affirm truth and constancy in her bond with Rama.