Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 40, Shloka 5

अभिज्ञानदानम् / The Gift of Recognition

Sita’s Token and Resolve

Devanagari script

मनश्शिलायास्तिलको गण्डपार्श्वे निवेशितः।त्वया प्रणष्टे तिलके तं किल स्मर्तुमर्हसि।।5.40.5।।

Transliteration

manaḥśilāyās tilako gaṇḍapārśve niveśitaḥ | tvayā praṇaṣṭe tilake taṃ kila smartum arhasi ||5.40.5||

Translation

也请再提醒他：当我额上的提拉卡印记被擦去时，正是你以雄黄（manaḥśilā）的红色颜料，在我面颊一侧重新点上提拉卡；他应当记得此事。

Word by Word

• मनश्शिलायाः: of red-arsenic (manaḥśilā)
• मनश्शिलायाः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनःशिला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी विभक्ति, एकवचन (Feminine, Genitive, Singular); कर्मधारयः (मनः + शिला)

• तिलकः: tilaka mark
• तिलकः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तिलक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Nominative, Singular)

• गण्डपार्श्वे: on the cheek-side
• गण्डपार्श्वे: अधिकरण (Adhikarana/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गण्ड-पार्श्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Locative, Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (गण्डस्य पार्श्वे)

• निवेशितः: was placed/applied
• निवेशितः: क्रिया (Predicative action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-विश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (agreeing with तिलकः)

• त्वया: by you
• त्वया: कर्ता (Agent in passive)/करण (Instrumental)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, त्रिलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Pronoun, Instrumental, Singular)

• प्रणष्टे: when (it) was lost/erased
• प्रणष्टे: अधिकरण (Locative absolute)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र-नश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन (Locative absolute with तिलके)

• तिलके: when the tilaka (mark)
• तिलके: अधिकरण (Locative absolute)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तिलक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग रूपेण सम्भवम्; सप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचन (Locative, Singular)

• तम्: that
• तम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Pronoun, Accusative, Singular)

• किल: indeed
• किल: निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किल (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/श्रुत्यर्थक अव्यय (indeed, as is said)

• स्मर्तुम्: to remember
• स्मर्तुम्: प्रयोजन (Purpose)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive)

• अर्हसि: you ought (to)
• अर्हसि: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्ह् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Context

'(Further remind him), 'When my tilaka mark was erased, you painted tilaka with a stone (manas-sita pigment) nearby. O Rama! you should remember that (incident).

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Sītā
• Hanumān
• tilaka
• manaḥśilā (red pigment)

FAQs

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

Dharma is upheld through satya (truth) and proper testimony: Sītā points to a private, verifiable memory as ethical evidence, preventing deception and ensuring righteous response.

What is the narrative situation?

Sītā continues giving Hanumān intimate details to convey to Rāma so that Rāma can be certain the message truly comes from her.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s tenderness and marital devotion are recalled; Sītā highlights the affectionate care he showed, reinforcing the legitimacy of their bond.