Shloka 1

शुकसारण-चारप्रवेशः

Suka and Sāraṇa’s Espionage and Release

Devanagari script

सबलेसागरंतीर्णेरामेदशरथात्मजे ।अमात्यौरावणश्रीमानब्रवीच्छुकसारणौ ।।।।

Transliteration

sabale sāgaraṃ tīrṇe rāme daśarathātmaje | amātyau rāvaṇaḥ śrīmān abravīc chuka-sāraṇau ||

Translation

ครั้นเมื่อพระราม โอรสแห่งทศรถ ข้ามมหาสมุทรพร้อมด้วยกองทัพแล้ว ทศกัณฐ์ผู้รุ่งเรืองจึงตรัสแก่เสนาบดีทั้งสอง คือ ศุกะและสารณะ

Word by Word

• sa-bale: with (his) army
• sa-bale: Adhikarana (अधिकरण) / Sahārtha-locative (सह-अर्थे सप्तमी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + bala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; अव्ययीभावसमास: 'बले सह' = 'with the army' (locative of accompaniment)

• sāgaram: the ocean
• sāgaram: Karma (कर्म) / object (of crossing)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sāgara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• tīrṇe: when (he) had crossed
• tīrṇe: Adhikarana (अधिकरण) / Locative absolute (सप्तमी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tṝ (तॄ, धातु) + kta (क्त) = tīrṇa (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; 'having crossed' (locative absolute with rāme)

• rāme: in/when Rama (was)
• rāme: Adhikarana (अधिकरण) / Locative absolute base
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; सप्तमी-सम्बन्ध (locative absolute) with tīrṇe

• daśaratha-ātmaje: in the son of Daśaratha
• daśaratha-ātmaje: Adhikarana (अधिकरण) / appositional in locative absolute
• Type: Noun
• Root: daśaratha (प्रातिपदिक) + ātmaja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'दशरथस्य आत्मजः' (son of Daśaratha); पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; rāme इति विशेषण/सम्बोधन-सम्बन्ध

• amātyau: the two ministers
• amātyau: Karma (कर्म) / addressees (object of speaking)
• Type: Noun
• Root: amātya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), द्विवचन

• rāvaṇaḥ: Rāvaṇa
• rāvaṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता) / subject
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāvaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• śrīmān: splendid, illustrious
• śrīmān: Karta (कर्ता) / qualifier of subject
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śrīmat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विशेषण of rāvaṇaḥ

• abravīt: spoke, said
• abravīt: Kriya (क्रिया) / main verb
• Type: Verb
• Root: brū (ब्रू, धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/past, लङ्), परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person/प्रथमपुरुष), एकवचन

• śuka-sāraṇau: Śuka and Sāraṇa
• śuka-sāraṇau: Karma (कर्म) / addressees (object of speaking)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śuka (प्रातिपदिक) + sāraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व: 'शुकश्च सारणश्च'; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), द्विवचन; amātyau इति समानाधिकरण

Context

On hearing about Rama, the son of Dasaratha crossing the shore of the ocean along with the army, exuberant Ravana spoke to his ministers Suka and Saarana.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Daśaratha
• Rāvaṇa
• Śuka
• Sāraṇa
• Ocean (Sāgara)

FAQs

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

The verse frames a decisive moment: power must respond to reality. Dharma here is vigilance and responsible governance—recognizing a changed situation (Rāma’s successful crossing) and acting with deliberation rather than denial.

What is the narrative situation?

After Rāma’s forces cross the ocean to Laṅkā’s region, Rāvaṇa summons/addresses his ministers Śuka and Sāraṇa, initiating a reconnaissance mission.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Strategic alertness (pramāda-rahitatā): the need to gather information before taking major decisions in conflict.