Shloka 9

शुकसारण-चारप्रवेशः

Suka and Sāraṇa’s Espionage and Release

Devanagari script

इतिप्रतिसमादिष्टौराक्षसौशुकसारणौ ।हरिरूपधरौवीरौप्रविष्टौवानरंबलम् ।।।।

Transliteration

iti pratisamādiṣṭau rākṣasau śukasāraṇau |

harirūpadharau vīrau praviṣṭau vānaraṃ balam ||6.25.9||

Translation

ഇങ്ങനെ ആജ്ഞ ലഭിച്ച രാക്ഷസവീരന്മാരായ ശുകനും സാരണനും വാനരരൂപം ധരിച്ചു വാനരസേനയിൽ പ്രവേശിച്ചു.

Word by Word

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध) / discourse marker
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle/quotative) इति

• prati-sam-ādiṣṭau: having been instructed
• prati-sam-ādiṣṭau: Karta (कर्ता) / qualifier of subject
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ā-diś (आदिश्, धातु) + kta (क्त) with upasargas prati-, sam-
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), द्विवचन; 'having been duly instructed/ordered' (qualifies rākṣasau)

• rākṣasau: the two rākṣasas
• rākṣasau: Karta (कर्ता) / subject
• Type: Noun
• Root: rākṣasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), द्विवचन

• śuka-sāraṇau: Śuka and Sāraṇa
• śuka-sāraṇau: Karta (कर्ता) / apposition to subject
• Type: Noun
• Root: śuka (प्रातिपदिक) + sāraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), द्विवचन; rākṣasau इति समानाधिकरण

• hari-rūpa-dharau: wearing monkey forms
• hari-rūpa-dharau: Karta (कर्ता) / qualifier of subject
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hari (प्रातिपदिक) + rūpa (प्रातिपदिक) + dhara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (उपपद): 'हरिरूपं धरतः' = 'bearing monkey-form'; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), द्विवचन; qualifies rākṣasau

• vīrau: the two heroes
• vīrau: Karta (कर्ता) / apposition
• Type: Noun
• Root: vīra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), द्विवचन; rākṣasau इति समानाधिकरण

• praviṣṭau: entered
• praviṣṭau: Kriya (क्रिया) / main action
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-viś (प्रविश्, धातु) + kta (क्त) = praviṣṭa (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; finite sense: 'entered' (with implied 'they')

• vānaram: monkey (belonging to monkeys)
• vānaram: Karma (कर्म) / object (entered into)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vānara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; विशेषण of balam

• balam: army, force
• balam: Karma (कर्म) / object (entered into)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

Context

Having accepted the order, both the Rakshasa heroes, Suka and Saarana took the form of Vanaras and entered the Vanara army.

Characters & Entities

• Śuka
• Sāraṇa
• Rākṣasas
• Vānara army

FAQs

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

The verse presents disguise and espionage as a war practice, inviting reflection on dharma-yuddha: tactical deception may occur, yet the epic repeatedly contrasts such methods with the ideal of satya-centered conduct embodied by Rāma.

What is the narrative situation?

After receiving Rāvaṇa’s orders, Śuka and Sāraṇa infiltrate the Vānara camp by taking Vānara forms.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Stealth and adaptability (as practical skills), though ethically framed in the broader narrative as tools of the opposing side.