Shloka 12

शुकसारणनिग्रहः / Ravana Rebukes Suka and Sārana; Spies Reconnoiter Rama’s Camp

Devanagari script

अप्येवदहनंस्पृष्टवावनेतिष्ठन्तिपादपाः ।राजदोषपरामृष्टास्तिष्ठन्तेनापराधिनः ।।।।

Transliteration

apy eva dahanaṃ spṛṣṭvā vane tiṣṭhanti pādapāḥ |

rājadōṣa-parāmṛṣṭās tiṣṭhante nāparādhinaḥ ||6.29.12||

Translation

Selbst wenn Feuer die Bäume berührt, können sie im Wald noch stehen; doch wer von der Strafgewalt des Königs getroffen wird, bleibt nicht ungestraft.

Word by Word

• अपि: even
• अपि: Avyaya (अव्यय/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अपि = even/also (particle)

• एव: indeed, just
• एव: Avyaya (अव्यय/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (emphasis)

• दहनम्: fire
• दहनम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दहन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग

• स्पृष्ट्वा: having touched
• स्पृष्ट्वा: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल/Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √स्पृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त (Absolutive/Gerund/क्त्वान्त)

• वने: in the forest
• वने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग

• तिष्ठन्ति: stand/remain
• तिष्ठन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √स्था (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• पादपाः: trees
• पादपाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पादप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन, पुंलिङ्ग

• राजदोषपरामृष्टाः: afflicted by royal punishment
• राजदोषपरामृष्टाः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: राज + दोष + परामृष्ट (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (राजदोषेण परामृष्टाः = touched/afflicted by the king's punishment); कृदन्त—क्त-प्रत्ययान्त ‘परामृष्ट’; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन, पुंलिङ्ग; विशेषणम् अपराधिनः-सम्बद्धम्

• तिष्ठन्ते: remain/stand
• तिष्ठन्ते: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √स्था (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद

• न: not
• न: Avyaya (अव्यय/Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध

• अपराधिनः: offenders, guilty persons
• अपराधिनः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अपराधिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन, पुंलिङ्ग

Context

"Trees may remain unscathed even on touching forest fire, but those who are punishable do not remain unpunished on account of the king and are treated harshly."

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Śuka
• Sāraṇa

FAQs

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

It reflects a distorted view of royal dharma: punishment should serve justice, not personal rage; otherwise it becomes tyranny.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa uses a metaphor to warn that those deemed offenders by a king cannot escape consequences.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Negatively, misuse of authority; positively (by contrast), righteous kingship requires measured, evidence-based punishment.