Shloka 22

अभिज्ञानवृत्तान्त-प्रत्यायनम्

Token of Recognition and the Crow–Brahmāstra Episode

Devanagari script

शक्तौ तौ पुरुषव्याघ्रौ वाय्वग्निसमतेजसौ ।।।।सुराणामपि दुर्धर्षौ किमर्थं मामुपेक्षतः।

Transliteration

śaktau tau puruṣa-vyāghrau vāyv-agni-sama-tejasau | surāṇām api durdharṣau kim arthaṃ mām upekṣataḥ |

Translation

शक्तौ तौ पुरुषव्याघ्रौ वाय्वग्निसमतेजसौ। सुरैरपि दुर्धर्षौ किमर्थं मामुपेक्षतः॥

Word by Word

• śaktau: able, powerful
• śaktau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śakta (कृदन्त; √śak शक्)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन; विशेषणम् (tau)

• tau: those two
• tau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन

• puruṣa-vyāghrau: tigers among men
• puruṣa-vyāghrau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puruṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + vyāghra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषः (puruṣeṣu vyāghrau), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन; उपाधि (tau)

• vāyu-agni-sama-tejasau: having energy equal to wind and fire
• vāyu-agni-sama-tejasau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vāyu (प्रातिपदिक) + agni (प्रातिपदिक) + sama (प्रातिपदिक) + tejas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः; (vāyu-agni-sadṛśaṃ tejaḥ yayor iti), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन; विशेषणम् (tau)

• surāṇām: of the gods
• surāṇām: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन

• api: even
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अपि-अव्यय (even)

• durdharṣau: hard to assail
• durdharṣau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dur-dharṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारयः (दुर् + धर्ष), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन; विशेषणम् (tau)

• kimartham: why
• kimartham: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kim-artham (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्नार्थक-अव्यय (why)

• mām: me
• mām: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• upekṣataḥ: (they two) neglect
• upekṣataḥ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: upa-√īkṣ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), द्विवचन; परस्मैपदम् (they two neglect)

Context

'Why are the two tigers among men whose power is like that of wind and fire and who are unassailable even to suras are neglecting me?

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa
• gods (sura)
• wind (vāyu)
• fire (agni)
• Sītā

FAQs

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

Capability creates obligation: when one has the power to protect, dharma condemns indifference to another’s suffering.

What is the narrative situation?

Sītā intensifies her appeal by praising Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa’s invincibility, then questioning the continued delay in rescuing her.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The brothers’ heroic energy (tejas) is highlighted—meant to be exercised in service of justice and protection.