Shloka 5

दूत-नीति, शुक-प्रसङ्गः

Envoy-Ethics and the Episode of Śuka

Devanagari script

पुत्रौदशरथस्येमौभ्रातरौरामलक्ष्मणौ ।।6.20.4।।उत्तमौरूपसम्पन्नौसीतायाःपदमागतौ ।एतौसागरमासाद्यसन्निविष्टौमहाद्युती ।।6.20.5।।

Transliteration

etau sāgaram āsādya sanniviṣṭau mahā-dyutī ||

Translation

大海に至り、偉大なる光輝を放つ二人の勇者は、その地に陣を定めた。

Word by Word

• balam: the army/force
• balam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (conjunction)

• ām: indeed
• ām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ām (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle; pādapūraṇa/emphasis); अर्थः—खलु/एव (indeed)

• ākāśam: the sky
• ākāśam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ākāśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• āvṛtya: having covered
• āvṛtya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā + vṛ (वृ धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund): having covered/enveloped

• sarvataḥ: on all sides
• sarvataḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sarvataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• daśa-yojanam: ten yojanas (in extent)
• daśa-yojanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daśa + yojana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; द्विगु-समासः: दश योजने प्रमाणम् (ten-yojana extent)

• tattva-bhūtam: the true situation
• tattva-bhūtam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tattva + bhūta (भूत, कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक from bhū)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP) ‘bhūta’; तत्पुरुष-समासः: तत्त्वं भूता/भूतम् = real/true state

• mahārāja: O great king
• mahārāja: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā + rāja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, सम्बोधन-विभक्तिः (Vocative), एकवचनम्; कर्मधारय-समासः

• kṣipram: quickly
• kṣipram: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kṣipram (अव्यय/नपुंसक-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् क्रियाविशेषणम्; अर्थः—शीघ्रम् (quickly)

• veditum: to know
• veditum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/उद्देश्य)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vid (विद् धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive): वेदितुम् (to know)

• arhasi: you ought
• arhasi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: arh (अर्ह् धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकारः (Present), मध्यमपुरुषः (2nd person), एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

Context

"If my wings are cut off and my eyes are injured, on account of that inauspicious act you will take on all sins of my life from the night I was born till the night I am dead leaving my original form, even will happen (Suka tells Rama)."

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa
• Sāgara (ocean/sea)

FAQs

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

Dharma is expressed as disciplined readiness: righteous action proceeds with preparation and order, not impulsive violence.

What is the narrative situation?

The report highlights that Rāma’s side has arrived at the strategic boundary (the sea) and is poised for the next step toward Laṅkā.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Strategic composure: the ability to pause, settle, and plan before acting.