Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 40, Shloka 9

अभिज्ञानदानम् / The Gift of Recognition

Sita’s Token and Resolve

Devanagari script

असह्यानि च दुःखानि वाचश्च हृदयच्छिदः।राक्षसीनां सुघोराणां त्वत्कृते मर्षयाम्यहम्।।5.40.9।।

Transliteration

asahyāni ca duḥkhāni vācaś ca hṛdayacchidaḥ | rākṣasīnāṃ sughorāṇāṃ tvatkṛte marṣayāmy aham ||5.40.9||

Translation

我忍受难以忍受的痛苦，也忍受那些最可怖的罗刹女（rākṣasī）刺穿心扉的言语——只为你之故。

Word by Word

• असह्यानि: unbearable
• असह्यानि: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: असह्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन (Neuter, Nom/Acc, Plural)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunctive)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• दुःखानि: sorrows
• दुःखानि: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुःख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Neuter, Accusative, Plural)

• वाचः: words, utterances
• वाचः: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाच् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Feminine, Accusative, Plural)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunctive)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• हृदयच्छिदः: heart-piercing
• हृदयच्छिदः: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हृदय-छिद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन (agreeing with वाचः); तत्पुरुषः (हृदयम् छिन्दन्ति इति)

• राक्षसीनाम्: of the ogresses
• राक्षसीनाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षसी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Feminine, Genitive, Plural)

• सुघोराणाम्: very dreadful
• सुघोराणाम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु-घोर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी विभक्ति, बहुवचन (agreeing with राक्षसीनाम्)

• त्वत्कृते: for your sake
• त्वत्कृते: हेतु/प्रयोजन (Cause/Purpose)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: त्वद्-कृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावसमासः; सप्तमी-आश्रितं अव्ययवत् (for your sake)

• मर्षयामि: I endure
• मर्षयामि: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मृष् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन (Pronoun, Nominative, Singular)

Context

"I am tolerating this unbearable grief, and the words of the dreadful ogresses piercing my heart. Only for you.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Sītā
• rākṣasīs (ogresses)

FAQs

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

Dharma is steadfast fidelity under trial: Sītā’s endurance is not passive resignation but principled restraint—she bears suffering without abandoning truth or virtue.

What is the narrative situation?

Sītā describes to Hanumān the daily torment she faces from the rākṣasīs, emphasizing that her will to endure is sustained by her commitment to Rāma.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Kṣamā (forbearance) and niṣṭhā (steadfast commitment) in Sītā.