Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 30, Shloka 4

शार्दूलचरवृत्तान्तः

Saardula’s Spy-Report on Rama’s Camp and the Vanara Host

Devanagari script

इतितेनानुशिष्टस्तुवाचंमन्दमुदीरयत् ।तदाराक्षसशार्दूलंशार्दूलोभयविह्वलः ।।6.30.4।।

Transliteration

iti tenānuśiṣṭas tu vācaṁ mandam udīrayat |

tadā rākṣasaśārdūlaṁ śārdūlo bhayavihvalaḥ ||6.30.4||

Translation

അവൻ ഇങ്ങനെ ചോദിച്ചപ്പോൾ, ഭയത്തിൽ വിറച്ച ശാർദൂലൻ, രാക്ഷസങ്ങളിൽ വ്യാഘ്രനായ ആ രാക്ഷസശാർദൂലനോട് മന്ദസ്വരത്തിൽ സംസാരിച്ചു॥

Word by Word

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/वाक्यसमाप्ति-निपात (quotative particle)

• tena: by him
• tena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; instrumental

• anuśiṣṭaḥ: having been admonished
• anuśiṣṭaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anuśiṣṭa (कृदन्त; √śās शास् धातु with anu-)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; 'having been instructed/admonished'

• tu: then/but
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (contrast/emphasis)

• vācām: speech, words
• vācām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāc (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; accusative

• mandam: softly, faintly
• mandam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: manda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण नपुंसक-द्वितीया-एकवचन (adverbial accusative)

• udīrayat: uttered
• udīrayat: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √īr ईर्/इर् धातु (ud + √īr)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (imperfect/past), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• tadā: then
• tadā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• rākṣasa-śārdūlam: to the tiger among rakshasas
• rākṣasa-śārdūlam: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rākṣasa (प्रातिपदिक) + śārdūla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; addressed person as object of speech

• śārdūlaḥ: Śārdūla
• śārdūlaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śārdūla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• bhaya-vihvalaḥ: overwhelmed by fear
• bhaya-vihvalaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhaya (प्रातिपदिक) + vihvala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; predicate adjective of śārdūlaḥ

Context

"It is not even possible to recount the virtues of Rama who killed all the Rakshasas approaching Janasthana."

Characters & Entities

• Śārdūla
• Rāvaṇa

FAQs

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

Truthfulness under pressure: even in fear, the messenger must report faithfully; dharma in speech (satya) is implied by the act of delivering the account.

What is the narrative situation?

Śārdūla, intimidated by what he has seen and by Ravana’s presence, begins his report in a subdued tone.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Accountability in service: despite fear, the envoy proceeds to speak and deliver intelligence.