Shloka 21

शुकसारण-चारप्रवेशः

Suka and Sāraṇa’s Espionage and Release

Devanagari script

प्रच्छमानौविमुञ्चैतौचारौरात्रिंचरावुभौ ।शत्रुपक्षस्यसततंविभीषण: विकर्षिणौ ।।।।

Transliteration

pracchamānau vimuñcaitau cārau rātriṃcarāv ubhau | śatrupakṣasya satataṃ vibhīṣaṇa vikarṣiṇau ||

Translation

Es sind Späher, beide nächtliche Umherstreifer, die Kunde erfragen und unablässig die feindliche Seite zu schwächen suchen; doch du, o Vibhīṣaṇa, lass sie frei, da sie flehen.

Word by Word

• atha: then
• atha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरार्थक-अव्यय (then/now)

• kiñcit: anything/a little
• kiñcit: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kiñcit (सर्वनाम/अव्यय)
• Form: परिमाणवाचक-अव्यय (a little/anything)

• adṛṣṭam: unseen
• adṛṣṭam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dṛś (धातु) > adṛṣṭa (कृदन्त with negation)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त/PPP) नकारार्थे, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन; 'unseen'

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (or)

• bhūyaḥ: again/further
• bhūyaḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: bhūyas (अव्यय)
• Form: पुनरर्थक-अव्यय (again/further)

• tat: that
• tat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन; object of draṣṭum

• draṣṭum: to see
• draṣṭum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन् (infinitive), 'to see'

• arhathaḥ: you two ought
• arhathaḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: arh (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), मध्यमपुरुष, द्विवचन, परस्मैपद; 'you two are fit/ought'

• vibhīṣaṇaḥ: Vibhishana
• vibhīṣaṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vibhīṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; subject (alternative)

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (or)

• kātsnaryena: in full/entirely
• kātsnaryena: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kātsnarya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया एकवचन; instrumental singular (in entirety)

• bhūyaḥ: again
• bhūyaḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: bhūyas (अव्यय)
• Form: पुनरर्थक-अव्यय (again)

• sandarśayiṣyati: will show
• sandarśayiṣyati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-dṛś (धातु, causative)
• Form: लृट् (भविष्यत्/Future), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद; णिच्-प्रयोग (causative): 'will show'

Context

"Vibheeshana! Even though they are spies seeking to divide the enemy army as both the night rangers have been requesting, you may set them free."

Characters & Entities

• Vibhīṣaṇa
• Śuka
• Sāraṇa

FAQs

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

Dharma includes restraint and mercy: even when wrongdoing is evident (spying), punishment is not automatic; righteous authority may choose release to uphold higher norms.

What is the narrative situation?

Captured rākṣasa spies beg for release; Rāma orders Vibhīṣaṇa to free them despite their hostile purpose.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Kṣamā (forbearance) and measured statecraft—strength guided by principle rather than anger.