Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 34, Shloka 14

सरमायाḥ सीतासान्त्वनम् तथा रावणनिश्चयश्रवणम्

Saarana Consoles Sita and Reports Ravana’s Resolve

Devanagari script

एवमुक्त्वाततोगत्वासमीपंतस्यरक्षसः ।शुश्रावकथितंतस्यरावणस्यसमन्त्रिणः ।।।।

Transliteration

evam uktvā tato gatvā samīpaṃ tasya rakṣasaḥ | śuśrāva kathitaṃ tasya rāvaṇasya samantriṇaḥ ||

Translation

Après avoir ainsi parlé, elle s’en alla et s’approcha de ce rākṣasa, et entendit en secret ce que disait Rāvaṇa avec ses conseillers.

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus, in that way
• एवम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable), प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of manner)

• उक्त्वा: having said
• उक्त्वा: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु) + क्त्वा (क्त्वान्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive), पूर्वकाल (prior action): "having said"

• ततः: then, thereafter
• ततः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, काल/क्रमवाचक (temporal/sequence adverb)

• गत्वा: having gone
• गत्वा: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु) + क्त्वा (क्त्वान्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), पूर्वकाल: "having gone"

• समीपम्: near, to the vicinity
• समीपम्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समीप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति (accusative), एकवचन; गत्यर्थक्रियायां देशवाचक (goal/place)

• तस्य: of him/that
• तस्य: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी विभक्ति (genitive), एकवचन

• रक्षसः: of the rākṣasa
• रक्षसः: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रक्षस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी विभक्ति (genitive), एकवचन

• शुश्राव: heard
• शुश्राव: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• कथितम्: what was said, the speech
• कथितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कथ् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा एकवचन; अत्र कर्मरूपेण (object: "what was said")

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी विभक्ति (genitive), एकवचन

• रावणस्य: of Rāvaṇa
• रावणस्य: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रावण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, षष्ठी विभक्ति (genitive), एकवचन

• समन्त्रिणः: of (him) who had ministers / with ministers
• समन्त्रिणः: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समन्त्रिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, षष्ठी विभक्ति (genitive), एकवचन; "with ministers" अर्थे सहार्थक-विशेषणवत् (having ministers/with his ministers)

Context

Having said so to Sita, she (Saarana) moved closer (to Ravana) and heard Ravana's conversation with his ministers.

Characters & Entities

• Saramā
• Rāvaṇa

FAQs

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

Practical dharma: seeking accurate knowledge to prevent harm. In crisis, responsible action includes gathering reliable information to protect the threatened.

What is the narrative situation?

Saramā approaches Rāvaṇa’s vicinity and listens to his discussion with his ministers to learn his decision.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Saramā’s courage and prudence—she acts carefully to secure truth without provoking danger.