Shloka 19

शार्दूलचरवृत्तान्तः

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

Devanagari script

अथैवमुक्तश्शार्दूलोरावणेनोत्तमश्चरः ।इदंवचनमारेभेवक्तुंरावणसन्निधौ ।।6.30.19।।

Transliteration

athaivam uktaḥ śārdūlo rāvaṇenottamaś caraḥ | idaṃ vacanam ārebhe vaktuṃ rāvaṇasannidhau ||6.30.19||

Translation

So von Rāvaṇa angesprochen, begann Śārdūla, der vortreffliche Späher, in Rāvaṇas Gegenwart diese Worte zu sprechen.

Word by Word

• atha: then
• atha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/अन्वय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/आरम्भसूचक (conjunctive particle: 'then/now')

• evam: thus
• evam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (adverb: 'thus')

• uktaḥ: having been spoken/addressed
• uktaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac + kta (धातु-प्रत्ययान्त)
• Form: क्त-कृदन्त (past passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• śārdūlaḥ: Śārdūla (name)
• śārdūlaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śārdūla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन; व्यक्तिनाम

• rāvaṇena: by Rāvaṇa
• rāvaṇena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāvaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन

• uttamaḥ: excellent
• uttamaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: uttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier)

• caraḥ: spy, agent
• caraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: cara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; 'चर' = गुप्तचर (spy)

• idam: this
• idam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण (demonstrative)

• vacanam: speech, words
• vacanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ārebhe: began, proceeded
• ārebhe: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā√rabh (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• vaktum: to speak
• vaktum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive); प्रयोजनार्थ (purpose)

• rāvaṇa-sannidhau: in Rāvaṇa's presence
• rāvaṇa-sannidhau: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāvaṇa + sannidhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष ('in the presence of Rāvaṇa'); पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन

Context

On hearing from the spies that Rama has camped with a great army, Ravana got a little panicky and said these words to Saardula.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Śārdūla

FAQs

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

The verse foregrounds satya in service roles: an agent’s duty is faithful, accurate reporting, especially when decisions of war and peace depend on it.

What is the narrative situation?

After being questioned by Rāvaṇa, Śārdūla prepares to deliver a detailed report in court.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Reliability in duty: the ‘excellent spy’ is characterized by competence and readiness to present information clearly.