Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 30, Shloka 17

शार्दूलचरवृत्तान्तः

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

Devanagari script

कीदृशा: किंप्रभा: सौम्यवानरायेदुरासदाः ।कस्यपुत्राश्चपौत्राश्चतत्त्वमाख्याहिराक्षस:।। 6.30.17।।

Transliteration

kīdṛśāḥ kiṃprabhāḥ saumya vānarā ye durāsadāḥ | kasya putrāś ca pautrāś ca tattvam ākhyāhi rākṣasaḥ ||6.30.17||

Translation

“Mabait na kaibigan, ano ang anyo ng mga Vānara na mahirap lapitan—ano ang kanilang lakas at ningning? Kaninong mga anak at mga apo sila? Ihayag mo sa akin ang katotohanan.”

Word by Word

• कीदृशाः: of what kind
• कीदृशाः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कीदृश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; interrogative adjective qualifying वानराः

• किम्: what
• किम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; interrogative used adverbially with प्रभाः (‘what (sort of)’)

• प्रभाः: in power/splendour
• प्रभाः: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृसमानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘splendours/might’ (i.e., what power)

• सौम्य: O gentle one
• सौम्य: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सौम्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; vocative ‘O gentle one’

• वानराः: the vanaras
• वानराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वानर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; subject of implied ‘are’

• ये: who
• ये: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; relative pronoun referring to वानराः

• दुरासदाः: hard to encounter
• दुरासदाः: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृसमानाधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुरासद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; predicate adjective of ये/वानराः; ‘hard to approach/encounter’

• कस्य: whose
• कस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी, एकवचन; interrogative genitive ‘of whom/whose’

• पुत्राः: sons
• पुत्राः: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृसमानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; predicate nominative with implied ‘are’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय

• पौत्राः: grandsons
• पौत्राः: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृसमानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पौत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; predicate nominative

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय

• तत्त्वम्: the truth/details
• तत्त्वम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; object of आख्याहि; ‘truth/details’

• आख्याहि: tell
• आख्याहि: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-ख्या (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (आज्ञार्थ), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; ‘tell/declare’

• राक्षसः: O Rakshasa
• राक्षसः: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; vocative ‘O Rakshasa’

Context

"Likewise knowing their strengths and weaknesses from you I wish to know what to do. It is essential to know their numbers and strength before the war."

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Śārdūla
• Vānaras

FAQs

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

Satya (truth) is explicitly invoked: accurate knowledge and truthful reporting are demanded as a basis for action.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa presses Śārdūla for detailed intelligence: the nature, power, and lineage of the formidable Vānara leaders.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Truth-seeking and accountability in counsel: the king demands precise, factual assessment rather than vague praise or fear.