Shloka 23

लङ्कानिरीक्षणं व्यूहविन्यासश्च

Survey of Lanka and Deployment of the Battle Formation

Devanagari script

रामस्यतुवचश्श्रुत्वावानरेन्द्रोमहाबलः ।मोचयामासतंदूतंशुकंरामस्यशासनात् ।।।।

Transliteration

rāmasya tu vacaḥ śrutvā vānarendro mahābalaḥ |

mocayāmāsa taṃ dūtaṃ śukaṃ rāmasya śāsanāt ||

Translation

Ayant entendu la parole de Rāma, Sugrīva, puissant roi des Vānara, relâcha l’émissaire Śuka, conformément à l’ordre de Rāma.

Word by Word

• rāmasya: of Rāma
• rāmasya: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• tu: but/indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Adversative/contrast particle (तु-अव्यय)

• vacaḥ: words/speech
• vacaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• śrutvā: having heard
• śrutvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: śru (धातु) + ktvā (क्त्वा, कृदन्त)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा-कृदन्त), indeclinable; prior action

• vānarendraḥ: king of the vanaras
• vānarendraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vānara (प्रातिपदिक) + indra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष): vānara-indra = 'lord of vanaras'; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• mahābalaḥ: mighty
• mahābalaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + bala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya (कर्मधारय): mahā-bala = 'great strength'; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with vānarendraḥ

• mocayāmāsa: released/caused to be freed
• mocayāmāsa: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: muc (धातु) + ṇic (णिच्, causative)
• Form: Liṭ (लिट्, Perfect), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); causative: 'caused to be released'

• tam: that
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• dūtam: envoy
• dūtam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dūta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); apposition to tam/śukam

• śukam: Śuka
• śukam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śuka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• rāmasya: of Rāma
• rāmasya: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• śāsanāt: from/by the command
• śāsanāt: Hetu/Source (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śāsana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular (एकवचन)

Context

Having heard Rama's words Sugriva, the mighty king of Vanaras was happy and relieved the envoy on the instruction of Rama.

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Sugriva
• Vanaras
• Suka

FAQs

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

Respecting dharma in warfare and diplomacy: an envoy should not be harmed, and the leader must restrain retaliation and act under righteous command.

What is the narrative situation?

Śuka, sent by Rāvaṇa as a messenger, has been seized by the Vanaras; upon Rama’s instruction, Sugrīva frees him.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rama’s maryādā (principled restraint) and Sugrīva’s obedience to righteous leadership.