Shloka 28

अभिज्ञानप्रदानम्

The Token of Recognition (Chūḍāmaṇi) and the Crow Episode Recalled

Devanagari script

पुत्त्रः किल स शक्रस्य वायसः पततां वरः।।5.38.28।।धरान्तरगतश्शीघ्रं पवनस्य गतौ समः।

Transliteration

putraḥ kila sa śakrasya vāyasaḥ patatāṃ varaḥ || 5.38.28 ||

dharāntaragataḥ śīghraṃ pavanasya gatau samaḥ |

Translation

کہا جاتا ہے وہ کوّا شکر (اِندر) کا بیٹا تھا، پرندوں میں برتر؛ وہ نہایت تیز رفتار تھا، اور ہوا کی سی چال سے پل بھر میں دور دراز فاصلوں کو پار کر لیتا تھا۔

Word by Word

• putraḥ: son
• putraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: putra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• kila: it is said
• kila: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kila (अव्यय)
• Form: श्रुत्यर्थक-अव्यय (it is said)

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• śakrasya: of Indra
• śakrasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śakra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• vāyasaḥ: the crow
• vāyasaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāyasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘saḥ’ का विशेष्य

• patatām: of the flying ones (birds)
• patatām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: patat (√pat + शतृ)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त ‘पतत्’ (flying), षष्ठी, बहुवचन; ‘of birds’

• varaḥ: the best
• varaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• dharāntara-gataḥ: having gone far/through regions
• dharāntara-gataḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dharā (प्रातिपदिक) + antara (प्रातिपदिक) + gata (√gam + kta)
• Form: तत्पुरुष: ‘धरायाः अन्तरं गतः’ (gone through/into the intervening space/region); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘vāyasaḥ’ विशेषण

• śīghram: swiftly
• śīghram: Prakaraṇa (प्रकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: śīghram (अव्यय)
• Form: गति/कालवाचक-अव्यय (quickly)

• pavanasya: of the wind
• pavanasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pavana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• gatau: in movement/speed
• gatau: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• samaḥ: equal to
• samaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘vāyasaḥ’ विशेषण

Context

'Then you, the strong-armed and best among the wise, your eyeballs rolling in fury, made up your mind about the cruel crow.

Characters & Entities

• vāyasa (crow)
• Śakra (Indra)
• Pavana (Wind-god)

FAQs

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

High status or divine lineage does not exempt one from accountability; dharma applies equally to the powerful.

What is the narrative situation?

Sītā identifies the crow as extraordinary—Indra’s son and exceptionally swift.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Impartiality in justice: wrongdoing remains wrongdoing regardless of pedigree.