Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 25, Shloka 17

शुकसारण-चारप्रवेशः

Suka and Sāraṇa’s Espionage and Release

Devanagari script

तयोस्तद्वचनंश्रुत्वारामोदशरथात्मजः ।अब्रवीत्प्रहसन्वाक्यंसर्वभूतहितेरतः ।।।।

Transliteration

tayos tad-vacanaṃ śrutvā rāmo daśarathātmajaḥ | abravīt prahasan vākyaṃ sarva-bhūta-hite rataḥ ||

Translation

அவர்களின் சொற்களைச் செவிமடுத்த தசரதநந்தனன் ஸ்ரீராமன், எல்லா உயிர்களின் நலனில் ஈடுபட்டவன், மென்மையான புன்னகையுடன் இனிய வாக்கை உரைத்தான்।

Word by Word

• tau: those two
• tau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा द्विवचन; subject

• dṛṣṭvā: having seen
• dṛṣṭvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive), 'having seen'

• vyathitau: distressed
• vyathitau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vyath (धातु) > vyathita (कृदन्त)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त/PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा द्विवचन; distressed

• rāmam: Rama
• rāmam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन; object of dṛṣṭvā

• nirāśau: hopeless
• nirāśau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nir-āśā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा द्विवचन; 'without hope'

• jīvite: in (regard to) life
• jīvite: Vishaya/Adhikarana (विषय/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jīvita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी एकवचन; locative singular (with respect to life)

• tathā: thus
• tathā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, प्रकारार्थक (thus/so)

• kṛta-añjali-puṭau: with folded palms
• kṛta-añjali-puṭau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛta (कृदन्त) + añjali (प्रातिपदिक) + puṭa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (kṛtaḥ añjali-puṭaḥ yayoḥ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा द्विवचन; 'with hands folded in salutation'

• bhītau: afraid
• bhītau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhīta (कृदन्त from √bhī)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त/PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा द्विवचन; afraid

• vacanam: words/speech
• vacanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन; object of ūcatuḥ

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय

• idam: this
• idam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन; 'this' qualifying vacanam

• ūcatuḥ: said
• ūcatuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, द्विवचन, परस्मैपद; 'they two said'

Context

"On hearing (the spies) Dasaratha's son Rama who remains devoted to the wellbeing of all beings spoke these words smiling at both of them."

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Daśaratha
• Śuka
• Sāraṇa

FAQs

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

Dharma of the ideal ruler: even amid war, Rāma’s orientation is sarva-bhūta-hita (the good of all beings), tempering power with compassion and measured speech.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma responds to the spies after hearing their confession, and his demeanor is notably calm and benevolent.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Compassionate restraint—responding without rage, maintaining moral clarity in conflict.