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Shloka 12

दूत-नीति, शुक-प्रसङ्गः

Envoy-Ethics and the Episode of Śuka

नहीयंहरिभिर्लङ्काशक्याप्राप्तुंकथञ्चन ।देवैरपिसगन्धर्वैःकिंपुनर्नरवानरैः ।।।।

na hīyaṃ haribhir laṅkā śakyā prāptuṃ kathañcana | devair api sa-gandharvaiḥ kiṃ punar nara-vānaraiḥ ||

ลังกานี้ วานรทั้งหลายย่อมไปถึงไม่ได้ไม่ว่าด้วยวิธีใด แม้เหล่าเทวะพร้อมด้วยคันธรรพ์ก็ยังไปไม่ถึง แล้วมนุษย์กับวานรจะยิ่งเป็นไปได้อย่างไร

not
:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootन (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; निषेध
हिindeed
हि:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootहि (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; निश्चय/हेतु (indeed/for)
इयम्this
इयम्:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootइदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम
हरिभिःby the vanaras
हरिभिः:
Karana (करण)
TypeNoun
Rootहरि (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन
लङ्काLanka
लङ्का:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootलङ्का (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; (इयम् लङ्का)
शक्याpossible
शक्या:
Visheshana (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootशक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
Formकृदन्त (शक् धातोः यत्/ण्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (possible)
प्राप्तुम्to reach/attain
प्राप्तुम्:
Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
TypeVerb
Rootप्राप् (धातु)
Formतुमुन्-अन्त (Infinitive)
कथञ्चनin any way (at all)
कथञ्चन:
Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootकथञ्चन (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; सर्वथा/कदाचित्-निषेधसह (in any way/at all)
देवैःby the gods
देवैः:
Karana (करण)
TypeNoun
Rootदेव (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन
अपिeven/also
अपि:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअपि (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; अपि-कार (also/even)
सगन्धर्वैःtogether with gandharvas
सगन्धर्वैः:
Karana (करण)
TypeNoun
Rootगन्धर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; सह-तत्पुरुष (गन्धर्वैः सह)
किम्what (then)
किम्:
Prashna (प्रश्न)
TypeNoun
Rootकिम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; प्रश्नार्थे (idiom: what then)
पुनःthen/how much more
पुनः:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootपुनः (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; विशेषार्थक (then/further)
नरवानरैःby men and vanaras
नरवानरैः:
Karana (करण)
TypeNoun
Rootनर + वानर (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (नराश्च वानराश्च)

"It is not possible for Vanaras to get here even for Gandharvas or Devas also. What to say of humans and Vanaras? (You may tell this to Sugriva)."

L
Laṅkā
V
vānaras (harayaḥ)
D
devas
G
gandharvas
H
humans (nara)

FAQs

The verse warns against pride opposed to satya: adharma often relies on intimidation and exaggeration, while dharma requires courage grounded in truth.

As part of Rāvaṇa’s message, Laṅkā’s supposed invincibility is asserted to discourage Sugrīva and fracture the coalition.

Fearlessness and steadiness are implicitly called for—resisting threats and maintaining commitment to the righteous objective.