Shloka 14

शार्दूलचरवृत्तान्तः

Saardula’s Spy-Report on Rama’s Camp and the Vanara Host

Devanagari script

मनसातंतदाप्रेक्ष्यतच्छ्रुत्वाराक्षसाधिपः ।शार्दूलंसुमहद्वाक्यमथोवाचसरावणः ।।6.30.14।।

Transliteration

manasā taṃ tadā prekṣya tac chrutvā rākṣasādhipaḥ | śārdūlaṃ sumahad vākyaṃ athovāca sa rāvaṇaḥ ||6.30.14||

Translation

ครั้นได้ฟังและพิจารณาในใจแล้ว ทศกัณฐ์ผู้เป็นจอมแห่งรากษส จึงกล่าวแก่ศารทูลด้วยถ้อยคำหนักแน่นยิ่ง

Word by Word

• मनसा: in (his) mind
• मनसा: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; Instrumental ‘with/in mind’

• तम्: that
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘him/that (message/person)’

• तदा: then
• तदा: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय; ‘then’

• प्रेक्ष्य: having considered
• प्रेक्ष्य: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-ईक्ष् (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृदन्त)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund); ‘having considered/observed’

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; object of श्रुत्वा

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु) + क्त्वा (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund); ‘having heard’

• राक्षसाधिपः: lord of the Rakshasas
• राक्षसाधिपः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस (प्रातिपदिक) + अधिप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (राक्षसानाम् अधिपः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• शार्दूलम्: to Śārdūla
• शार्दूलम्: Sambodhyamāna/Karma (सम्बोध्य/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शार्दूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; addressee/object of speech

• सुमहत्: very great
• सुमहत्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; adjective qualifying वाक्यम्

• वाक्यम्: words/speech
• वाक्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; object of उवाच

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरार्थक-अव्यय; ‘then’

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/परिपूर्णभूत), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; ‘said’

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; pronoun ‘he’

• रावणः: Ravana
• रावणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रावण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; apposition to सः

Context

"Even if Devas, Gandharvas and Danavas come to wage war with me and even if I have threats from all worlds, I will not give away Sita."

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Śārdūla
• Rākṣasas

FAQs

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

The verse points to deliberation as a duty of leadership—reflecting before speaking—though later choices determine whether that deliberation aligns with dharma.

What is the narrative situation?

After hearing Śārdūla’s report and advice, Rāvaṇa reflects and prepares to respond.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Vicāra (reflection): the act of mentally reviewing counsel before replying.