Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 20, Shloka 9

दूत-नीति, शुक-प्रसङ्गः

Envoy-Ethics and the Episode of Śuka

Devanagari script

सुग्रीवंब्रूहिगत्वाशुराजानंवचनान्मम ।यथासन्देशमक्लीबंश्लक्ष्णयापरयागिरा ।।।।

Transliteration

sugrīvaṃ brūhi gatvāśu rājānaṃ vacanān mama |

yathā-sandeśam aklībaṃ ślakṣṇayā parayā girā ||

Translation

Geh schnell und sprich in meinem Namen zu König Sugriva; überbringe die Botschaft wie angewiesen, furchtlos, doch mit sehr sanfter und gewählter Stimme.

Word by Word

• सुग्रीवम्: Sugriva (as object)
• सुग्रीवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुग्रीव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• ब्रूहि: tell/speak
• ब्रूहि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• गत्वा: having gone
• गत्वा: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive)

• आशु: quickly
• आशु: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आशु (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• राजानम्: the king
• राजानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• वचनान्: words
• वचनान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• मम: my
• मम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• यथा: as/according to
• यथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकार/अनुरूपता-बोधक (as/according to)

• सन्देशम्: message
• सन्देशम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सन्देश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अक्लीबम्: without timidity/undisturbed
• अक्लीबम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अक्लीब (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier)

• श्लक्ष्णया: with gentle (speech)
• श्लक्ष्णया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्लक्ष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन; विशेषण

• परया: excellent/very (speech)
• परया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• गिरा: by speech/voice
• गिरा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गिर् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Context

"Mighty king Ravana! the army also is spread all over ten yojanas. I have seen going round the sky. You ought to know the real situation at once."

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Śuka
• Sugrīva

FAQs

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

Ethics of speech: even adversarial diplomacy should be delivered with clarity, courage, and controlled gentleness rather than abuse or panic.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa commissions Śuka to approach Sugrīva as a diplomatic envoy with a specific message.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Courage with courtesy: fearlessness (aklība) balanced by refined speech (ślakṣṇa gir).