Shloka 1

शार्दूलचरवृत्तान्तः

Saardula’s Spy-Report on Rama’s Camp and the Vanara Host

Devanagari script

ततस्तमक्षोभ्यबलंलङ्काधिपतयेचराः ।सुवेलेराघवंशैलेनिविष्टंप्रत्यवेदयन् ।।6.30.1।।

Transliteration

rākṣasāś ca yathā snigdhā rāvaṇasya ca tejasā |

parāṃ samṛddhiṃ laṅkāyāḥ sāgarasya ca bhīmatām ||6.3.8||

Translation

Ich will berichten, wie die Rākṣasas Rāvaṇa ergeben sind und wie seine Macht sie beherrscht; von Laṅkās höchstem Wohlstand und von der furchterregenden Gewalt des Ozeans.

Word by Word

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

• tam: him
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• akṣobhya-balam: the unshakable army
• akṣobhya-balam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: akṣobhya (प्रातिपदिक) + bala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; object (reported)

• laṅkā-adhipataye: to the lord of Lanka
• laṅkā-adhipataye: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: laṅkā (प्रातिपदिक) + adhipati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th), एकवचन; dative

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

• suvele: on/at Suvela
• suvele: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: suvela (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; locative

• rāghavam: Raghava (Rama)
• rāghavam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāghava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; object (reported)

• śaile: on the mountain
• śaile: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaila (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; locative

• niviṣṭam: encamped, settled
• niviṣṭam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: niviṣṭa (कृदन्त; √viś विश् धातु with ni-)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; agrees with rāghavam

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

Context

Thereafter, the spies reported to the king of Lanka that Raghava had camped with an unshakable army at the Suvela mountain.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Rākṣasas
• Lankā
• Ocean (Sāgara)

FAQs

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

Dharma requires clear-eyed assessment of opposing power—truthful recognition of strengths and risks prevents reckless harm.

What is the narrative situation?

Hanuman previews key points of his intelligence report: Ravana’s influence, Lanka’s wealth, and the formidable ocean barrier.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Discernment—Hanuman reports realities without exaggeration, aiding righteous strategy.