Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 30, Shloka 7
शार्दूलचरवृत्तान्तः
Saardula’s Spy-Report on Rama’s Camp and the Vanara Host
प्रविष्टमात्रेज्ञातोऽहंबलेतस्मिन्नचारिते ।बलाद्गृहीतोरक्षोभिर्बहुधाऽस्मिविचालितः ।।6.30.7।।
praviṣṭamātre jñāto ’haṃ bale tasminn acārite |
balād gṛhīto rakṣobhir bahudhā ’smi vicālitaḥ ||6.30.7||
ആ സൈന്യത്തിൽ ഒളിച്ചുകയറിയ ഉടൻ തന്നെ ഞാൻ തിരിച്ചറിയപ്പെട്ടു; കാവൽക്കാരായ രാക്ഷസർ ബലമായി എന്നെ പിടിച്ചു, പലവട്ടം ഇങ്ങോട്ടും അങ്ങോട്ടും തള്ളിക്കളഞ്ഞു।
"No sooner I entered their army, I was detected. I was forcibly seized by their guards and rolled on the ground."
FAQs
It highlights truthful reporting (satya) in statecraft: the spy narrates events as they occurred, showing that accurate intelligence is a dharmic duty even in war.
A Laṅkā spy describes being discovered immediately upon entering the opposing camp and being forcibly seized and manhandled.
Truthfulness and accountability in testimony—reporting without embellishment despite personal humiliation.