Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 51, Shloka 11

धूम्राक्षप्रेषणम्

The Dispatch of Dhūmrākṣa

Devanagari script

तदप्रियंदीनमुखारावणस्यनिशाचराः ।कृत्स्नंनिवेदयामासुर्यथावद्वाक्यकोविदाः ।।6.51.11।।

Transliteration

tad apriyaṃ dīna-mukhā rāvaṇasya niśācarāḥ | kṛtsnaṃ nivedayāmāsur yathāvad vākya-kovidāḥ ||6.51.11||

Translation

அப்போது அந்த நிசாசர ராட்சசர்கள் துயர்முகத்துடன் ராவணனிடம் அந்த அப்பிரியமான செய்தியை யதார்த்தமாக முழுவதுமாக அறிவித்தனர்; செய்தி உரைப்பதில் அவர்கள் நிபுணர்கள்.

Word by Word

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् — अप्रियम्

• अप्रियम्: unpleasant (news)
• अप्रियम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अप्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• दीनमुखाः: with downcast faces
• दीनमुखाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दीन + मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (दीनं मुखं येषाम्) — निशाचराः इति विशेष्यस्य

• रावणस्य: to/for Ravana; of Ravana
• रावणस्य: Sampradana/Sambandha (सम्प्रदान/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रावण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• निशाचराः: night-roamers (Rakshasas)
• निशाचराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निशा + चर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (निशायां चरन्ति)

• कृत्स्नम्: entirely, in full
• कृत्स्नम्: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कृत्स्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः (adverbial accusative), क्रियाविशेषण

• निवेदयामासुः: reported, informed
• निवेदयामासुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि + विद् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपद; णिच्-प्रयोग (causative stem: निवेदय-)

• यथावत्: accurately, as it was
• यथावत्: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथावत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, प्रकारवाचक (properly/as it was)

• वाक्यकोविदाः: skilled in speech
• वाक्यकोविदाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वाक्य + कोविद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (वाक्ये कोविदाः) — निशाचराः इति विशेष्यस्य

Context

Rakshasas who were well versed in talking, desperately conveyed the unpleasantness as it is to Ravana.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa

FAQs

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

Satya (truthfulness) in communication: even when news is unwelcome, dharma favors accurate reporting over flattery or concealment.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa’s men deliver a full report of alarming developments rather than hiding the severity.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Integrity in speech—faithful transmission of facts despite fear or political pressure.