Shloka 21

दूत-नीति, शुक-प्रसङ्गः

Envoy-Ethics and the Episode of Śuka

Devanagari script

सुग्रीव:स त्त्वसम्पन्न: महाबलपराक्रम: ।किंमयाखलुवक्तव्योरावणोलोकरावणः ।।।।

Transliteration

sugrīvaḥ sattvasampannaḥ mahābalaparākramaḥ |

kiṃ mayā khalu vaktavyo rāvaṇo lokarāvaṇaḥ ||

Translation

“ഹേ സുഗ്രീവാ, ധൈര്യസമ്പന്നനും മഹാബലപരാക്രമിയുമായവനേ! ലോകത്തെ കരയിക്കുന്ന രാവണനോട് ഞാൻ നിന്റെ ഭാഗത്ത് നിന്ന് എന്ത് സന്ദേശം പറയണം?”

Word by Word

• सुग्रीवः: Sugriva
• सुग्रीवः: कर्ता (subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुग्रीव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (कर्तरि), एकवचनम्; संज्ञा (proper noun)

• सः: he
• सः: कर्ता (co-referential subject/pronoun)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; सर्वनाम

• सत्त्वसम्पन्नः: rich in spirit/virtue-endowed
• सत्त्वसम्पन्नः: विशेषण (qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत्त्व + सम्पन्न (प्रातिपदिक; 'सम्+पद्' धातु-निष्पन्नः कृदन्त-विशेषणम्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (सुग्रीवस्य)

• महाबलपराक्रमः: of great strength and prowess
• महाबलपराक्रमः: विशेषण (qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा + बल + पराक्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (सुग्रीवस्य)

• किम्: what
• किम्: कर्म (object: 'what')
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; प्रश्नवाचक-सर्वनाम; अत्र कर्मरूपेण (वक्तव्यम् इत्यस्य)

• मया: by me
• मया: कर्ता (agent in passive construction)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: त्रिलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्तिः (करणे/कर्तरि), एकवचनम्; सर्वनाम

• खलु: indeed / surely
• खलु: सम्बन्ध/निपात (emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: खलु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपातः/पदार्थ-निश्चयार्थक-अव्ययम् (emphatic particle)

• वक्तव्यः: to be spoken / should be conveyed
• वक्तव्यः: विधेय (predicate; obligation)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु) + तव्यत् (कृत्-प्रत्ययः)
• Form: तव्यत्-कृदन्तः (कर्तव्यता/अनिवार्यता), पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; कर्मणि-प्रयोगे विधेय-विशेषणम् (अध्याहृतं 'सः/रावणः')

• रावणः: Ravana
• रावणः: कर्ता/विषय (topic; equated with subject in context)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रावण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; संज्ञा (proper noun)

• लोकरावणः: one who makes the world cry
• लोकरावणः: विशेषण (qualifier of Ravana)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लोक + रावण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (रावणस्य)

Context

"Oh! Sugriva! Who is rich in spirit and endowed with mighty prowess! What should I convey to Ravana who makes the world cry?"

Characters & Entities

• Śuka
• Sugrīva
• Rāvaṇa

FAQs

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

The verse frames dharmic diplomacy: an envoy must ask for and carry an authorized message, aligning with satya as faithful transmission.

What is the narrative situation?

Śuka, now safe, requests Sugrīva’s message to deliver to Rāvaṇa.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Formal propriety in communication—Śuka seeks clarity of mandate before speaking further.