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Shloka 15

शुकसारण-चारप्रवेशः

Suka and Sāraṇa’s Espionage and Release

तौदृष्टवाव्यथितौरामंनिराशौजीवितेतथा ।कृताञ्जलिपुटौभीतौवचनंचेदमूचतुः ।।।।

tau dṛṣṭvā vyathitau rāmaṃ nirāśau jīvite tathā | kṛtāñjali-puṭau bhītau vacanaṃ cedam ūcatuḥ ||

രാമനെ കണ്ടപ്പോൾ അവർ രണ്ടുപേരും വിറച്ചു; ജീവൻപോലും പ്രതീക്ഷിക്കാതെ, ഭീതിയോടെ കൈകൂപ്പി ഇങ്ങനെ പറഞ്ഞു.

tauthose two
tau:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Roottad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formसर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया द्विवचन; 'those two' as object
dadarśasaw
dadarśa:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootdṛś (धातु)
Formलिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद; 'saw'
mahā-tejāḥthe mighty/brilliant one
mahā-tejāḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootmahā (प्रातिपदिक) + tejas (प्रातिपदिक)
Formकर्मधारय, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; adjective used substantively (the brilliant one)
praticchannauhidden
praticchannau:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeAdjective
Rootprati-chad (धातु) > praticchanna (कृदन्त)
Formकृदन्त (क्त/PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया द्विवचन; 'covered/hidden' qualifying tau
caand
ca:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootca (अव्यय)
Formसमुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय
vibhīṣaṇaḥVibhishana
vibhīṣaṇaḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootvibhīṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; proper noun
ācacakṣeinformed
ācacakṣe:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootā-cakṣ (धातु)
Formलिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद; 'reported/told'
athathen
atha:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootatha (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय, अनन्तरार्थक (then/now)
rāmāyato Rama
rāmāya:
Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
TypeNoun
Rootrāma (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी एकवचन; dative singular
gṛhītvāhaving seized
gṛhītvā:
Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
TypeVerb
Rootgrah (धातु)
Formक्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), 'having seized/captured'
śuka-sāraṇauSuka and Sarana
śuka-sāraṇau:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootśuka (प्रातिपदिक) + sāraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
Formद्वन्द्व (itaretara), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया द्विवचन; two names as a pair

The two (Rakshasa spies) got worried to look at Rama and also lost hope of their life. Caught up with fear they lifted their palms greeting Rama and expressed these words.

R
Rāma
Ś
Śuka
S
Sāraṇa

FAQs

The verse introduces the ethics of surrender and accountability: even adversaries, when powerless, appeal through respectful speech—setting the stage for how a dhārmic leader treats captives.

After being caught, the two spies confront Rāma directly and plead in fear with folded hands.

Humility under consequence—acknowledging one’s precarious position and seeking mercy through respectful approach.