Shloka 1

दूत-नीति, शुक-प्रसङ्गः

Envoy-Ethics and the Episode of Śuka

Devanagari script

ततोनिविष्टांध्वजिनींसुग्रीवेणाभिपालिताम् ।ददर्शराक्षसोऽभ्येत्यशार्दूलोनामवीर्यवान् ।।।।

Transliteration

tato niviṣṭāṃ dhvajinīṃ sugrīveṇābhipālitām | dadarśa rākṣaso ’bhyetya śārdūlo nāma vīryavān ||

Translation

แล้วอสูรร้ายผู้ทรงเดชชื่อว่า “ศารทูละ” ก็เข้ามา และได้เห็นกองทัพที่ตั้งค่ายอยู่ ณ ที่นั้น อยู่ใต้การบัญชาการและการคุ้มครองของสุครีวะ มีธงชัยและเครื่องหมายกองทัพเด่นชัด

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb); अर्थः—ततः (then/thereupon)

• niviṣṭām: encamped
• niviṣṭām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ni + viś (विश् धातु) → niviṣṭa (निविष्ट, कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP): encamped/settled

• dhvajinīm: the army
• dhvajinīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhvajinī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; ‘army/battalion’

• sugrīveṇa: by Sugriva
• sugrīveṇa: Karaṇa/Agent-in-passive (करण/कर्तृ-तृतीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sugrīva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, तृतीया-विभक्तिः (Instrumental), एकवचनम्

• abhipālitām: commanded/guarded
• abhipālitām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: abhi + pāl (पाल् धातु) → pālita (पालित, कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP): protected/commanded

• dadarśa: saw
• dadarśa: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (दृश् धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकारः (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

• rākṣasaḥ: a rakshasa
• rākṣasaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rākṣasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• abhyetya: having approached
• abhyetya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi + i (इ धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund): ‘having approached/come near’

• śārdūlaḥ: Shardula
• śārdūlaḥ: Apposition (समनाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śārdūla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; व्यक्तिनाम

• nāma: by name
• nāma: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nāma (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle); नाम-शब्दः—‘by name/called’

• vīryavān: valiant
• vīryavān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vīrya + vat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; मतुप्/वत्-प्रत्ययान्त: possessing valor

Context

Then the heroic Rakshasa called Shardula entered into the area encamped by the army under Sugriva's command and saw the sign flag of the army.

Characters & Entities

• Śārdūla
• Sugrīva

FAQs

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

The verse sets the stage for ethical conflict: surveillance and diplomacy precede war; dharma in governance includes assessing realities before action.

What is the narrative situation?

A rākṣasa agent, Śārdūla, approaches and observes Sugrīva’s encamped forces, initiating the episode of messages and counter-actions.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Organized leadership and preparedness—Sugrīva’s army is presented as disciplined and clearly commanded.