Shloka 2

अभिज्ञानवृत्तान्त-प्रत्यायनम्

Token of Recognition and the Crow–Brahmāstra Episode

Devanagari script

इदमुक्तवती देवी जानकी पुरुषर्षभ।पूर्व वृत्तमभिज्ञानं चित्रकूटे यथातथम्।।।।

Transliteration

idam uktavatī devī jānakī puruṣarṣabha | pūrva-vṛttam abhijñānaṃ citrakūṭe yathā-tatham ||

Translation

ஹே புருஷரிஷபா, தேவி ஜானகி எனக்கு இதைச் சொன்னாள்—சித்ரகூட்டில் முன்பு நடந்த நிகழ்வை அடையாளச் சான்றாக, நடந்தபடியே நடந்ததாக।

Word by Word

• idam: this
• idam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neut), द्वितीया (Acc), एकवचन (sg)

• uktavatī: having said
• uktavatī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु) + ktavat (क्तवत्)
• Form: क्तवत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (perfect participle/agentive), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (fem), प्रथमा (Nom), एकवचन (sg); ‘having said’

• devī: the queen
• devī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (fem), प्रथमा (Nom), एकवचन (sg)

• jānakī: Janaki
• jānakī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jānakī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (fem), प्रथमा (Nom), एकवचन (sg) (apposition to devī)

• puruṣarṣabha: O bull among men
• puruṣarṣabha: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puruṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + ṛṣabha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masc), सम्बोधन (Voc), एकवचन (sg); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—‘पुरुषाणाम् ऋषभः’

• pūrva-vṛttam: the past event
• pūrva-vṛttam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pūrva (प्रातिपदिक) + vṛtta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neut), द्वितीया (Acc), एकवचन (sg); कर्मधारयः—‘पूर्वं वृत्तम्’

• abhijñānam: as a recognition-token
• abhijñānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: abhijñāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neut), द्वितीया (Acc), एकवचन (sg); apposition/explanatory

• citrakūṭe: at Chitrakuta
• citrakūṭe: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: citrakūṭa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masc), सप्तमी (Loc), एकवचन (sg)

• yathā-tatham: just as it happened
• yathā-tatham: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय) + tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय-द्वन्द्व (indeclinable pair), manner adverb meaning ‘exactly as it was’

Context

"O bull among men! queen Janaki related to me as a token of identification an incident that had taken place at Chitrakuta in the past.

Characters & Entities

• Hanumān
• Sītā (Jānakī, Devī)
• Rāma
• Citrakūṭa

FAQs

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

Truth is established through reliable signs and faithful reporting; dharma in communication requires accuracy, especially when trust and duty depend on it.

What is the narrative situation?

Hanumān begins conveying Sītā’s message to Rāma and introduces a past incident at Citrakūṭa as proof that he truly met her.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Hanumān’s satya and fidelity as a messenger—he transmits Sītā’s words precisely and provides verifiable identification.