Shloka 20

शुकसारण-चारप्रवेशः

Suka and Sāraṇa’s Espionage and Release

Devanagari script

नचेदंग्रहणंप्राप्यभेत्तव्यंजीवितंप्रति ।न्यस्तशस्त्रौगृहतौवानदूतौवधमर्हतः ।।।।

Transliteration

na ced aṃ grahaṇaṃ prāpya bhettavyaṃ jīvitaṃ prati | nyastaśastrau gṛhītau vā na dūtau vadham arhataḥ ||

Translation

Puisque vous avez été saisis, ne craignez pas pour vos vies. Ceux qui ont déposé les armes, ou qui ont été capturés, et surtout les messagers, ne méritent pas d’être mis à mort.

Word by Word

• yadi: if
• yadi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yadi (अव्यय)
• Form: शर्तार्थक-अव्यय (if)

• dṛṣṭam: seen/observed
• dṛṣṭam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dṛś (धातु) > dṛṣṭa (कृदन्त)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त/PPP), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन; 'seen' qualifying balam

• balam: the army
• balam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन; here as object understood (what was to be seen)

• sarvam: entire
• sarvam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन; qualifying balam

• vayam: we
• vayam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, उत्तमपुरुष, प्रथमा बहुवचन; 'we' (royal/plural)

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (or)

• su-parikṣitāḥ: well inspected
• su-parikṣitāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + pari-īkṣ (धातु) > parikṣita (कृदन्त)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त/PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचन; 'well-examined/inspected'

• yathā-uktam: as instructed
• yathā-uktam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय) + ukta (कृदन्त from √vac)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव (yathā uktaṃ), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन used adverbially; 'as said/according to instruction'

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (or)

• kṛtam: done
• kṛtam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛ (धातु) > kṛta (कृदन्त)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त/PPP), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन; 'done' qualifying kāryam

• kāryam: the task
• kāryam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kārya (प्रातिपदिक; gerundive sense)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन; 'task/what is to be done'

• chandataḥ: as you wish
• chandataḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: chandas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb), 'according to your will/at pleasure'

• pratigamyatām: please return
• pratigamyatām: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: prati-gam (धातु)
• Form: लोट्, मध्यमपुरुष, बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद-आज्ञार्थ (passive/impersonal polite): 'let (you) return'

Context

As you have been caught by us like this you need not have apprehension of your life. Those who do not possess wield or those who are envoys ought not to be slayed.

Characters & Entities

• Śuka
• Sāraṇa

FAQs

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

Dūta-dharma and yuddha-nīti: envoys and those who are disarmed/captive are protected classes; righteous war restrains violence by rules.

What is the narrative situation?

Śuka and Sāraṇa are caught while spying; Rāma prevents their execution and assures them of safety.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s justice and self-control—he enforces ethical boundaries even in a hostile war.