Shloka 17

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

Devanagari script

महोदरस्तथोक्तस्तुशीघ्रमाज्ञापयच्चरान् ।।।।ततश्चारास्संत्वरिताःप्राप्ताःपार्थिवशासनात् ।उपस्थिताःप्राञ्जलयोवर्धयित्वाजयशिषाः ।।।।

Transliteration

mahodaras tathoktas tu śīghram ājñāpayac carān ||

Translation

So angewiesen, erteilte Mahodara den Spähern unverzüglich Befehle.

Word by Word

• महोदरः: Mahodara
• महोदरः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महोदर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग (व्यक्तिनाम)

• तथा: thus
• तथा: Avyaya (अव्यय/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (thus)

• उक्तः: having been told/ordered
• उक्तः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वच् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (Past passive participle), प्रथमा, एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग; महोदरः-विशेषणम्

• तु: then/but
• तु: Avyaya (अव्यय/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अन्वय/विरोध

• शीघ्रम्: quickly
• शीघ्रम्: Avyaya (अव्यय/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: शीघ्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण

• आज्ञापयत्: ordered
• आज्ञापयत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ√ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; णिच् (causative: ordered)

• चरान्: spies
• चरान्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन, पुंलिङ्ग

• ततः: then
• ततः: Avyaya (अव्यय/Sequence)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रम/अपादानार्थ (then/from that)

• चाराः: spies
• चाराः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन, पुंलिङ्ग

• संत्वरिताः: hastened
• संत्वरिताः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्√त्वर् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (Past passive participle used adjectivally), प्रथमा, बहुवचन, पुंलिङ्ग; चाराः-विशेषणम्

• प्राप्ताः: arrived
• प्राप्ताः: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicative participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र√आप् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (Past passive participle), प्रथमा, बहुवचन, पुंलिङ्ग; (चाराः)

• पार्थिवशासनात्: from the king's command
• पार्थिवशासनात्: Hetu/Apadana (हेतु/अपादान; source/cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्थिव + शासन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (पार्थिवस्य शासनम्); पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative), एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग

• उपस्थिताः: stood present
• उपस्थिताः: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicative participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप√स्था (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—क्त-प्रत्ययान्त, प्रथमा, बहुवचन, पुंलिङ्ग; (चाराः)

• प्राञ्जलयः: with folded hands
• प्राञ्जलयः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्राञ्जलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन, पुंलिङ्ग; विशेषणम् चाराः-सम्बद्धम् (with folded hands)

• वर्धयित्वा: having acclaimed/blessed
• वर्धयित्वा: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल/Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वृध् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त (Absolutive/Gerund) with causative stem (वर्धय-); ‘having greeted/increased (by blessings)’

• जयशिषाः: with victory-blessings
• जयशिषाः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जय + आशिष् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (जयस्य आशिषः = blessings of victory); तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), बहुवचन, स्त्रीलिङ्ग (आशिष्-शब्दः)

Context

(Ravana) Having said so, Mahodara ordered the spies to approach the king quickly. On reaching they greeted the king with folded hand s promoting h i m to' be victorious' and stood.

Characters & Entities

• Mahodara
• Spies (cāra)

FAQs

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

It reflects the administrative principle of prompt execution of a superior’s command; dharma in governance values clarity and timely action—yet must be guided by righteous ends.

What is the narrative situation?

Mahodara immediately acts on Rāvaṇa’s instruction and mobilizes the spies.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Efficiency and obedience within a command structure (ājñā-pālana).