Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 40, Shloka 3

अभिज्ञानदानम् / The Gift of Recognition

Sita’s Token and Resolve

Devanagari script

यथा तं पुरुषव्याघ्रं गात्रैश्शोकाभिकर्शितैः।संस्पृशेयं सकामाहं तथा कुरु दयां मयि।।5.40.3।।

Transliteration

yathā taṃ puruṣavyāghraṃ gātraiḥ śokābhikarśitaiḥ |

saṃspṛśeyaṃ sakāmāhaṃ tathā kuru dayāṃ mayi ||5.40.3||

Translation

求你怜悯我，设法使我能以被忧苦消瘦的肢体，触及并拥抱那人中之虎——罗摩——以贞妻的渴慕紧紧相拥。

Word by Word

• यथा: so that/as
• यथा: Kriyā-sambandha (क्रियासम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकार/उपमानिर्देशक (as/in such a way that)

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• पुरुषव्याघ्रम्: tiger among men
• पुरुषव्याघ्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puruṣa-vyāghra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; apposition to तम्; समास: पुरुषाणां व्याघ्रः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• गात्रैः: with (my) limbs
• गात्रैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gātra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural; करण

• शोकाभिकर्शितैः: emaciated by sorrow
• शोकाभिकर्शितैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śoka-abhikarśita (प्रातिपदिक; from abhi-√kṛṣ)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural; विशेषण of गात्रैः; समास: शोकेन अभिकर्शित (तृतीया-तत्पुरुष)

• संस्पृशेयम्: I might touch
• संस्पृशेयम्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-√spṛś (धातु)
• Form: Liṅ (लिङ् = Optative/Potential), Uttama-puruṣa, Singular, Parasmaipada

• सकाम: desirous/with longing
• सकाम: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa-kāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; predicate adjective of अहम्; समास: कामेन सह/कामा (कर्मधारय)

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• तथा: thus/in that way
• तथा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (thus/in that way)

• कुरु: do
• कुरु: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Loṭ (लोट् = Imperative), Madhyama-puruṣa, Singular, Parasmaipada

• दयाम्: compassion
• दयाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dayā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; object of कुरु

• मयि: towards/in me
• मयि: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; recipient locus

Context

The illustrious vanara held the ornament, prostrated to Sita and prepared to depart.

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Hanumān
• Rāma

FAQs

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

It highlights steadfast marital dharma (pativratā-bhāva) and the righteous duty of the messenger to help reunite the separated spouses through truthful effort.

What is the narrative situation?

Sītā implores Hanumān to help bring about reunion with Rāma, describing her body weakened by prolonged grief.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s fidelity and endurance; Hanumān’s expected virtue is compassionate resolve in service of a righteous cause.