Shloka 30

दूत-नीति, शुक-प्रसङ्गः

Envoy-Ethics and the Episode of Śuka

Devanagari script

ततोऽब्रवीद्वालिसुतस्त्वङ्गदोहरिसत्तमः ।नायंदूतोमहाराजचारिकःप्रतिभातिमे ।।।।

Transliteration

tato ’bravīd vāli-sutas tv aṅgado hari-sattamaḥ |

nāyaṃ dūtaḥ mahārāja cārikaḥ pratibhāti me ||

Translation

แล้วองคท บุตรแห่งพญาวาลี ผู้เลิศในหมู่วานร กล่าวขึ้นว่า “ข้าแต่มหาราช สำหรับข้าพเจ้า ผู้นี้มิใช่ทูต หากเป็นสายสืบ”

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; काल/क्रम-वाचक अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• अब्रवीत्: said
• अब्रवीत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular); परस्मैपद

• वालिसुतः: Vali's son
• वालिसुतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वालिसुत (प्रातिपदिक; वालिन्+सुत)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha/Particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधान/विरोध-निपात (particle: but/indeed)

• अङ्गदः: Angada
• अङ्गदः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अङ्गद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• हरिसत्तमः: best of the monkeys
• हरिसत्तमः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरिसत्तम (प्रातिपदिक; हरि+सत्तम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; उपाधि/विशेष्य (epithet)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha/Particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध-निपात

• अयम्: this (one)
• अयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; निर्देश-सर्वनाम (demonstrative pronoun)

• दूतः: messenger
• दूतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• महाराज: O great king
• महाराज: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाराज (प्रातिपदिक; महा+राजन्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन

• चारिकः: spy
• चारिकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चारिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• प्रतिभाति: appears/seems
• प्रतिभाति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति√भा (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• मे: to me
• मे: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (Dative/4th), एकवचन

Context

As if it is a second ocean deep and immeasurable, the ocean of Vanaras and Bears are heading towards Lanka (reported the spy).

Characters & Entities

• Aṅgada
• Vāli
• Sugrīva
• Dūta (envoy)

FAQs

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

Rājadharma includes discernment: protecting the community by distinguishing diplomacy from espionage.

What is the narrative situation?

Aṅgada assesses an approaching figure’s intent and advises the king that the visitor is likely gathering intelligence.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Prudence and strategic clarity—alertness without rashness.