Valmiki Ramayana 6.29.9 — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 29, Shloka 9

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

Devanagari script

आचार्यागुरवोवृद्धावृथावांपर्युपासिताः ।सारंयद्राजशास्त्राणामनुजीव्यंनगृह्यते ।।।।

Transliteration

ācāryā guravo vृद्धā vṛthā vāṃ paryupāsitāḥ | sāraṃ yad rājaśāstrāṇām anujīvyaṃ na gṛhyate ||

Translation

ஆசாரியர், குருக்கள், முதியோர் ஆகியோரை நீங்கள் இருவரும் வீணாகவே பணிந்தீர்கள்; ஏனெனில் அரசநீதி-சாஸ்திரத்தின் வாழ்விற்கு உகந்த சாரத்தை நீங்கள் ஏற்றுக்கொள்ளவில்லை।

Word by Word

• आचार्याः: teachers
• आचार्याः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आचार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/प्रथमा), बहुवचन (Plural), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine)

• गुरवः: gurus, elders
• गुरवः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन, पुंलिङ्ग

• वृद्धाः: the aged/elders
• वृद्धाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन, पुंलिङ्ग; (वृद्ध = elders)

• वृथा: in vain, uselessly
• वृथा: Avyaya (अव्यय/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वृथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• वाम्: of you two
• वाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), द्विवचन (Dual); सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• पर्युपासिताः: were attended upon/served
• पर्युपासिताः: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicative participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि-उप-आ√सद्/√आस् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (Past passive participle/क्त), प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन, पुंलिङ्ग; कर्मणि प्रयोगः (passive sense)

• सारम्: essence
• सारम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग

• यत्: which
• यत्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सम्बन्धक (relative pronoun)

• राजशास्त्राणाम्: of political treatises/statecraft texts
• राजशास्त्राणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राज + शास्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: राज्ञः शास्त्राणि); षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), बहुवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग

• अनुजीव्यम्: to be lived by / to be followed
• अनुजीव्यम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनु√जीव् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—यत्/अनीय-प्रत्ययान्त (Gerundive/भाव्य, ‘to be lived by/should be followed’), द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सारम्-विशेषणम्

• न: not
• न: Avyaya (अव्यय/Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध (negation particle)

• गृह्यते: is grasped/accepted
• गृह्यते: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ग्रह् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present/वर्तमान), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd), एकवचन (Singular); आत्मनेपद (Atmanepada); कर्मणि/भावे प्रयोगः (passive-like: 'is grasped')

Context

"You have not grasped that which is the essence of political wisdom in the sastras in spite of waiting upon elders, teachers and parents which was in vain."

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Śuka
• Sāraṇa
• ācārya (teachers)
• gurus (preceptors)

FAQs

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

True learning is measured by internalized wisdom and right conduct, not by mere association with teachers; dharma requires that knowledge become lived discernment (viveka) in counsel and action.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa continues his reprimand, claiming that despite their education and service to elders, they lack the practical essence of statecraft.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The virtue of disciplined learning culminating in sound judgment; the verse critiques superficial education without practical ethical application.