Shloka 17

शार्दूलचरवृत्तान्तः

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

Devanagari script

कीदृशा: किंप्रभा: सौम्यवानरायेदुरासदाः ।कस्यपुत्राश्चपौत्राश्चतत्त्वमाख्याहिराक्षस:।। 6.30.17।।

Transliteration

kīdṛśāḥ kiṃprabhāḥ saumya vānarā ye durāsadāḥ | kasya putrāś ca pautrāś ca tattvam ākhyāhi rākṣasaḥ ||6.30.17||

Translation

„Guter Freund, wie sind jene schwer zu bezwingenden Vānaras — welche Kraft und welcher Glanz wohnt ihnen inne? Wessen Söhne und Enkel sind sie? Sage mir die Wahrheit.“

Word by Word

• कीदृशाः: of what kind
• कीदृशाः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कीदृश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; interrogative adjective qualifying वानराः

• किम्: what
• किम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; interrogative used adverbially with प्रभाः (‘what (sort of)’)

• प्रभाः: in power/splendour
• प्रभाः: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृसमानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘splendours/might’ (i.e., what power)

• सौम्य: O gentle one
• सौम्य: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सौम्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; vocative ‘O gentle one’

• वानराः: the vanaras
• वानराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वानर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; subject of implied ‘are’

• ये: who
• ये: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; relative pronoun referring to वानराः

• दुरासदाः: hard to encounter
• दुरासदाः: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृसमानाधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुरासद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; predicate adjective of ये/वानराः; ‘hard to approach/encounter’

• कस्य: whose
• कस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी, एकवचन; interrogative genitive ‘of whom/whose’

• पुत्राः: sons
• पुत्राः: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृसमानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; predicate nominative with implied ‘are’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय

• पौत्राः: grandsons
• पौत्राः: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृसमानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पौत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; predicate nominative

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय

• तत्त्वम्: the truth/details
• तत्त्वम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; object of आख्याहि; ‘truth/details’

• आख्याहि: tell
• आख्याहि: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-ख्या (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (आज्ञार्थ), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; ‘tell/declare’

• राक्षसः: O Rakshasa
• राक्षसः: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; vocative ‘O Rakshasa’

Context

"Likewise knowing their strengths and weaknesses from you I wish to know what to do. It is essential to know their numbers and strength before the war."

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Śārdūla
• Vānaras

FAQs

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

Satya (truth) is explicitly invoked: accurate knowledge and truthful reporting are demanded as a basis for action.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa presses Śārdūla for detailed intelligence: the nature, power, and lineage of the formidable Vānara leaders.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Truth-seeking and accountability in counsel: the king demands precise, factual assessment rather than vague praise or fear.