Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 20, Shloka 36

दूत-नीति, शुक-प्रसङ्गः

Envoy-Ethics and the Episode of Śuka

Devanagari script

नाघातयत्तदारामश्श्रुत्वातत्परिदेवनम् ।वानरानब्रवीद्रामोमुच्यतांदूतआगतः ।।।।

Transliteration

nāghātayat tadā rāmaḥ śrutvā tat-paridevanam |

vānarān abravīd rāmo mucyatāṃ dūta āgataḥ ||

Translation

Then Rama, hearing that lament, forbade them to strike him and said to the Vanaras: “Let him be released—he has come as an envoy.”

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक

• सागरवेलायाम्: on the seashore
• सागरवेलायाम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सागरवेला (प्रातिपदिक; सागर+वेला)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• दर्भान्: kusa grass
• दर्भान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दर्भ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• आस्तीर्य: having spread
• आस्तीर्य: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आ√स्तृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund): ‘having spread’

• राघवः: Raghava (Rama)
• राघवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राघव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अञ्जलिम्: folded hands (salutation)
• अञ्जलिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अञ्जलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• प्राङ्मुखः: facing east
• प्राङ्मुखः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्राङ्मुख (प्रातिपदिक; प्राक्+मुख)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (of राघवः)

• कृत्वा: having made
• कृत्वा: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund): ‘having done/made’

• प्रतिशिश्ये: lay down
• प्रतिशिश्ये: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति√शी (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• महोदधेः: of the great ocean
• महोदधेः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महोदधि (प्रातिपदिक; महा+उदधि)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• बाहुम्: arm
• बाहुम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• भुजगभोगाभम्: resembling a serpent's coil
• भुजगभोगाभम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भुजगभोगाभ (प्रातिपदिक; भुजग+भोग+आभ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (of बाहुम्)

• उपधाय: having placed
• उपधाय: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उप√धा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund): ‘having placed/rested’

• अरिसूदनः: destroyer of foes
• अरिसूदनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अरिसूदन (प्रातिपदिक; अरि+सूदन)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; उपाधि (epithet of Rama)

Context

Ravana the tiger among Rakshasas, after having heard Shardula's words decided within himself and said to Suka who is good at work praising him very much as usual.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Vānaras
• Śuka (implied as the envoy)

FAQs

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

Dharma of warfare: an envoy must not be harmed. Rāma upholds maryādā (righteous limits) even toward an enemy messenger.

What is the narrative situation?

Śuka is captured and lamenting; Rāma intervenes and orders the Vānaras to release him because he is an envoy.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Restraint and justice: Rāma enforces ethical boundaries, showing principled leadership over anger or retaliation.