Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 29, Shloka 27

शुकसारणनिग्रहः / Ravana Rebukes Suka and Sārana; Spies Reconnoiter Rama’s Camp

Devanagari script

विभीषणेनतत्रस्थानिगृहीतायदृच्छया ।शार्दूलोग्राहितस्त्वेकःपापोऽयमितिराक्षसः ।।।।

Transliteration

vibhīṣaṇena tatra-sthā nigṛhītā yadṛcchayā | śārdūlo grāhitas tv ekaḥ pāpo 'yam iti rākṣasaḥ ||

Translation

Par hasard, Vibhīṣaṇa les saisit en ce lieu ; et Śārdūla seul fut pris à part, tandis qu’on criait : « Celui-ci est un rākṣasa pervers ! »

Word by Word

• प्रेक्षमाणाः: looking on
• प्रेक्षमाणाः: विशेषण (Qualifier of rākṣasāḥ)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + √ईक्ष् (धातु) शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• मूम्: army
• मूम्: कर्म (Object of prekṣamāṇāḥ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चमू (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• ताम्: that
• ताम्: कर्म (Apposition to mūm)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• तु: indeed
• तु: सम्बन्ध (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात

• बभूवुः: became/were
• बभूवुः: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• भयविक्लबाः: panic-stricken
• भयविक्लबाः: प्रेडिकेट-विशेषण (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भय (प्रातिपदिक) + विक्लब (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (‘भयेन विक्लबाः’); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• ते: they
• ते: कर्ता (Subject; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• तु: but
• तु: सम्बन्ध (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात

• धर्मात्मना: by the righteous-souled (Vibhishana)
• धर्मात्मना: कर्ता (Agent in passive: ‘by the righteous one’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्मात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• दृष्टाः: were seen
• दृष्टाः: क्रिया (Passive predicate: ‘were seen’)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दृश् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive)

• राक्षसेन्द्रेण: by the Rakshasa-king
• राक्षसेन्द्रेण: कर्ता (Agent in passive; apposition to dharmātmanā)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस (प्रातिपदिक) + इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (‘राक्षसानाम् इन्द्रः’); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• राक्षसाः: Rakshasas
• राक्षसाः: कर्ता/अनुभवकर्ता (Experiencer; those who became afraid)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

Context

By chance Vibheeshana seized Saardula, the evil Rakshasa who was moving in that army.

Characters & Entities

• Vibhīṣaṇa
• Śārdūla
• Rākṣasa spies

FAQs

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

Dharma includes protection of the community through vigilance: suspicious infiltrators are restrained to prevent harm, while identification is made for just action.

What is the narrative situation?

Vibhīṣaṇa intercepts the disguised spies; Śārdūla is singled out and captured.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Protective alertness and responsibility in leadership—Vibhīṣaṇa acts promptly to secure the camp.