Shloka 6

शुकसारणनिग्रहः / Ravana Rebukes Suka and Sārana; Spies Reconnoiter Rama’s Camp

Devanagari script

अधोमुखौतौप्रणतावब्रवीच्छुकसारणौ ।रोषगद्गदयावाचासंरब्धंपरुषंवचः ।।।।

Transliteration

adhomukhau tau praṇatāv abravīc chuka-sāraṇau | roṣa-gadgadayā vācā saṃrabdhaṃ paruṣaṃ vacaḥ ||

Translation

Dengan suara tersekat oleh amarah, Rāvaṇa berkata dengan geram dan kasar kepada Śuka dan Sāraṇa, yang berdiri di hadapannya dengan wajah tertunduk dalam tunduk sembah.

Word by Word

• अधोमुखौ: with faces lowered
• अधोमुखौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अधोमुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; बहुव्रीहिः: अधः मुखं यस्य सः (with face/head bent down)

• तौ: those two
• तौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; सर्वनाम

• प्रणतौ: bowed down
• प्रणतौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रणत (कृदन्त; √नम् धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle) विशेषणम्

• अब्रवीत्: spoke
• अब्रवीत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• शुकसारणौ: Suka and Sarana
• शुकसारणौ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुक (प्रातिपदिक) + सारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः

• रोषगद्गदया: with a voice choked by anger
• रोषगद्गदया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रोष (प्रातिपदिक) + गद्गद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), एकवचन; वाचाः विशेषणम्; तत्पुरुषः: रोषेण गद्गदा (choked/stammering due to anger)

• वाचा: with (his) voice
• वाचा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाच्/वाचा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• संरब्धम्: agitated/indignant
• संरब्धम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संरब्ध (कृदन्त; √रभ् धातु, उपसर्ग सं-)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; वचः इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम्

• परुषम्: harsh
• परुषम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; वचः इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम्

• वचः: words/speech
• वचः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Context

(That Ravana) with his throat choked with anger spoke indignantly and harshly to both Suka and Saarana who stood with their heads bent down in supplication.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Śuka
• Sāraṇa

FAQs

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

The verse highlights the ethical weight of speech: anger distorts judgment and leads to harsh words, which is contrary to dharmic self-restraint (vāg-niyama) expected especially of a ruler.

What is the narrative situation?

Śuka and Sāraṇa stand before Rāvaṇa in a submissive posture, and Rāvaṇa responds with agitated, harsh speech—setting up his rebuke of their counsel.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

By contrast (through Rāvaṇa’s lack of it), the virtue emphasized is restraint and measured speech—calm counsel rather than angry reaction.