Shloka 30

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

Devanagari script

ततोदशग्रीवमुपस्थितास्तेचाराबहिर्नित्यचरानिशाचराः ।गिरेस्सुवेलस्यसमीपवासिनंन्यवेदयन्भीमबलंमहाबलाः ।।।।

Transliteration

tato daśagrīvam upasthitās te cārā bahir nitya-carā niśācarāḥ | gireḥ suvelasya samīpa-vāsinaṃ nyavedayan bhīma-balaṃ mahā-balāḥ ||

Translation

Darauf traten jene Späher, nächtliche Umherstreifer, die stets draußen umherzogen, vor Daśagrīva (Rāvaṇa) und meldeten ihm das mächtige Heer von furchterregender Stärke, das nahe dem Berge Suvela lagerte.

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of sequence)

• daśa-grīvam: the ten-necked (Ravana)
• daśa-grīvam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daśa (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + grīva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास (दश ग्रīvā yasya); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; object

• upasthitāḥ: having approached
• upasthitāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: upasthita (कृदन्त; √sthā स्था धातु with upa-)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; 'having approached'

• te: they
• te: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• cārāḥ: spies
• cārāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: cāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• bahiḥ: outside
• bahiḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: bahiḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of place)

• nitya-carāḥ: ever-wandering
• nitya-carāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nitya (प्रातिपदिक) + cara (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक from √car चर्)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; 'ever-roaming'

• niśā-carāḥ: night-rangers
• niśā-carāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: niśā (प्रातिपदिक) + cara (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक from √car चर्)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी/सप्तमी-सम्बन्ध: niśāyām caranti); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• gireḥ: of the mountain
• gireḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: giri (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; genitive

• suvelasya: of Suvela
• suvelasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: suvela (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; genitive

• samīpa-vāsinam: dwelling nearby
• samīpa-vāsinam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: samīpa (प्रातिपदिक) + vāsin (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक from √vas वस्)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; qualifies bhiima-balam

• nyavedayan: reported, informed
• nyavedayan: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vid विद् धातु (ni + ava + √vid)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (imperfect/past), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन

• bhīma-balam: the terrible army/force
• bhīma-balam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhīma (प्रातिपदिक) + bala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; object of nyavedayan

• mahā-balāḥ: very strong
• mahā-balāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + bala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; qualifies cārāḥ

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

• Rāvaṇa (Daśagrīva)
• Rākṣasa spies (niśācarāḥ, cārāḥ)
• Suvela (mountain)
• Vānara army (mahā-bala)

FAQs

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

Satya in governance requires accurate reporting: even an adharma-driven ruler depends on truthful intelligence, showing that truth functions as a necessary pillar of statecraft.

What is the narrative situation?

The spies return to Rāvaṇa and deliver their reconnaissance report: Rāma’s forces are stationed near Suvela.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Operational discipline (though in an adharmic cause): the spies perform their assigned duty and communicate actionable facts.