Shloka 23

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

Devanagari script

चारास्तुतेतथेत्युक्त्वाप्रहृष्टाराक्षसेश्वरम् ।शार्दूलमग्रतःकृत्वाततश्चक्रुःप्रदक्षिणम् ।।।।

Transliteration

cārās tu te tathety uktvā prahṛṣṭā rākṣaseśvaram | śārdūlam agrataḥ kṛtvā tataś cakruḥ pradakṣiṇam ||

Translation

Die Späher, voller Freude, erwiderten: „So sei es.“ Śārdūla an die Spitze stellend, vollzogen sie in Ehrfurcht die Pradakṣiṇā um den Herrn der Rākṣasas und gingen davon.

Word by Word

• चारेण: by spies
• चारेण: करण (Karana/Instrument: ‘by means of spies’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• विदितः: known
• विदितः: विशेषण (Predicate participle of śatruḥ)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √विद् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘known/ascertained’

• शत्रुः: enemy
• शत्रुः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject of nirasyate)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत्रु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• पण्डितैः: wise
• पण्डितैः: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पण्डित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण (of vasudhādhipaiḥ)

• वसुधाधिपैः: by kings (lords of the earth)
• वसुधाधिपैः: कर्ता (Agent in passive: ‘by kings’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वसुधा (प्रातिपदिक) + अधिप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (‘वसुधायाः अधिपाः’); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• युद्धे: in war
• युद्धे: अधिकरण (Location: ‘in war’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• स्वल्पेन: with little
• स्वल्पेन: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वल्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (of yatnena)

• यत्नेन: effort
• यत्नेन: करण (Instrument: ‘with effort’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यत्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• समासाद्य: having engaged/approached
• समासाद्य: पूर्वकाल क्रिया (Gerundial)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + आ + √सद् (धातु) + ल्यप् (क्त्वा)
• Form: ल्यप्/क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund), ‘having approached/engaged’

• निरस्यते: is repelled/destroyed
• निरस्यते: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: निर् + √अस्/अस्य (धातु: निरस्यति)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोगार्थक (passive sense): ‘is driven away/destroyed’

Context

"Wise kings of the land, having known about enemies from the spies destroy enemies in war with little effort."

Characters & Entities

• Spies (cāra)
• Śārdūla

FAQs

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

It shows formal reverence and hierarchy (maryādā) in royal service; the Ramayana implicitly contrasts external ritual respect with the higher dharma of aligning one’s actions with truth and righteousness.

What is the narrative situation?

The spies accept the mission, show formal respect to Rāvaṇa, and leave with Śārdūla leading.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Orderly conduct and protocol—discipline in executing assigned duty.