Shloka 34

शार्दूलचरवृत्तान्तः

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

Devanagari script

राक्षसानांवरिष्ठश्चतवभ्रातावीभीषणः ।प्रतिगृह्यपुरींलङ्कांराघवस्यहितेरतः ।।6.30.34।।

Transliteration

rākṣasānāṁ variṣṭhaś ca tava bhrātā vibhīṣaṇaḥ |

pratigṛhya purīṁ laṅkāṁ rāghavasya hite rataḥ ||6.30.34||

Translation

Y Vibhishana, tu hermano, el más noble de los rákshasas, habiendo aceptado la ciudad de Lanka, permanece consagrado al bienestar de Raghava.

Word by Word

• राक्षसानाम्: of the rākṣasas
• राक्षसानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; Genitive Plural

• वरिष्ठः: the best
• वरिष्ठः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वरिष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; superlative adjective ‘best’

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• तव: your
• तव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी, एकवचन; Genitive Singular (2nd person pronoun)

• भ्राता: brother
• भ्राता: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भ्रातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Nominative Singular

• विभीषणः: Vibhīṣaṇa
• विभीषणः: Apposition (समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विभीषण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; proper name

• प्रतिगृह्य: having received
• प्रतिगृह्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति + ग्रह् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययभाव (gerund); ‘having accepted/received’

• पुरीम्: the city
• पुरीम्: Karma (कर्म/Object of प्रतिगृह्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; Accusative Singular

• लङ्काम्: Laṅkā
• लङ्काम्: Karma (कर्म/apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लङ्का (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; Accusative Singular; apposition to पुरीम्

• राघवस्य: of Rāghava
• राघवस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राघव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; Genitive Singular

• हिते: in the welfare
• हिते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; Locative Singular ‘in (his) welfare’

• रतः: devoted
• रतः: Kriya-samartha (predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participial adjective), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘devoted/engaged’

Context

"O King! the Vanara heroes are valiant and highly powerful. They are also protected by Rama. It is not possible to spy on them."

Characters & Entities

• Vibhīṣaṇa
• Rāvaṇa
• Laṅkā
• Rāghava (Rāma)
• Rākṣasas
• Śārdūla

FAQs

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

Dharma over blood-ties: Vibhishana’s alignment with Rama’s welfare shows that righteousness can supersede familial loyalty when family stands for adharma.

What is the narrative situation?

Śārdūla reports that Vibhishana has joined Rama and is positioned as the recipient/acceptor of Lanka, acting for Rama’s benefit.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Moral courage and integrity: Vibhishana’s steadfast commitment to what he perceives as right.