Shloka 20

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

Devanagari script

इतोगच्छतरामस्यव्यवसायंपरीक्षथ ।मन्त्रिष्वभ्यन्तरायेऽस्यप्रीत्यातेनसमागताः ।।।।

Transliteration

ito gacchata rāmasya vyavasāyaṃ parīkṣatha | mantriṣv abhyantarā ye ’sya prītyā tena samāgatāḥ ||

Translation

„Geht von hier und erkundet Rāmas festen Entschluss; prüft auch die, die ihm nahe sind: seine Minister und die Verbündeten, die aus Zuneigung zu ihm gekommen sind.“

Word by Word

• तान्: them
• तान्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• अब्रवीत्: spoke
• अब्रवीत्: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• ततः: then
• ततः: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रमवाचक

• वाक्यम्: words/speech
• वाक्यम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• रावणः: Ravana
• रावणः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रावण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• राक्षसाधिपः: lord of the Rakshasas
• राक्षसाधिपः: सम्बोधन/विशेषण (Apposition to subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस (प्रातिपदिक) + अधिप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (‘राक्षसानाम् अधिपः’); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• चारान्: spies
• चारान्: कर्म (Object; in apposition to तान्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• प्रत्यायितान्: trustworthy
• प्रत्यायितान्: विशेषण (Qualifier of cārān)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रति + √इ (धातु) + णिच्? / प्रत्यायित (प्रातिपदिक, कृदन्त)
• Form: कृदन्त-विशेषण (past participial), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; ‘trusted/reliable/confirmed’

• शूरान्: brave
• शूरान्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शूर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• भक्तान्: devoted/loyal
• भक्तान्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• विगतसाध्वसान्: free from fear
• विगतसाध्वसान्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विगत (प्रातिपदिक) + साध्वस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (‘विगतं साध्वसं येषाम्’); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण

Context

There after Ravana having heard the words spoken by Suka about the army of Vanara heroes, seeing Lakshmana of extraordinary valour, the right shoulder of Rama standing close by Rama his own brother Vibheeshana close by the king of Vanaras, Sugriva of fierce valour and Angada the son of Vali (the son of Indra who wields thunderbolt) and valiant Hanuman Jambavan who is difficult to conquer Sushena, Nila, Kumuda, bull among the leaping animals Nala likewise Gaja, Gavaksha, Sarabha, Mainda and Dwivida got a little broken hearted and mixed with fury started to rebuke both the heroes Suka and Saarana.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Spies (cāra)
• Rāvaṇa

FAQs

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

It points to the importance of discerning motives and counsel around a leader; dharma in leadership depends on understanding both intention (vyavasāya) and the integrity of one’s circle.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa dispatches spies to study Rāma’s intentions and the loyalty-structure of his camp.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Strategic discernment—evaluating resolve, alliances, and counsel (nīti as situational analysis).