Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 20, Shloka 29

दूत-नीति, शुक-प्रसङ्गः

Envoy-Ethics and the Episode of Śuka

Devanagari script

महाबलंमहात्मानंदुर्धर्षममरैरपि ।नबुध्यसेरघुश्रेष्ठंयस्तेप्राणान्हरिष्यति ।।।।

Transliteration

mahā-balaṃ mahātmānaṃ durdharṣam amarair api |

na budhyase raghu-śreṣṭhaṃ yas te prāṇān hariṣyati ||

Translation

Ngươi chẳng nhận ra bậc tối thượng dòng Raghu: sức mạnh lớn lao, tâm hồn vĩ đại, đến chư thiên cũng khó khuất phục—chính Ngài sẽ đoạt lấy mạng sống ngươi.

Word by Word

• महाबलम्: very mighty
• महाबलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महाबल (प्रातिपदिक; महत्+बल)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (adjective)

• महात्मानम्: great-souled
• महात्मानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक; महत्+आत्मन्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण

• दुर्धर्षम्: hard to overpower
• दुर्धर्षम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर्धर्ष (प्रातिपदिक; दुर्+धर्ष)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण

• अमरैः: by the immortals (gods)
• अमरैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अमर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha/Particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle), अर्थः: ‘even/also’

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

• बुध्यसे: you understand
• बुध्यसे: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: बुध् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन (Singular); आत्मनेपद (Ātmanepada)

• रघुश्रेष्ठम्: the best of the Raghus (Rama)
• रघुश्रेष्ठम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रघुश्रेष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक; रघु+श्रेष्ठ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); सम्बन्ध-सर्वनाम (relative pronoun)

• ते: your
• ते: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular)

• प्राणान्: lives, vital breaths
• प्राणान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• हरिष्यति: will take away
• हरिष्यति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हृ (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular); परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada)

Context

"You do not understand that the foremost of Raghu's, a benevolent one, is difficult to overcome even for Indra. He will take away your life with his extraordinary might."

Characters & Entities

• Raghu lineage
• Rāma (raghu-śreṣṭha)
• Amaras (gods)
• Rāvaṇa (implied)

FAQs

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

Hubris blinds; dharma requires clear discernment of righteous strength and timely correction before destruction follows.

What is the narrative situation?

A warning that Rāma’s power and moral force are beyond ordinary opposition, and that Rāvaṇa’s life is at stake.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Mahātmatā (great-souled righteousness) paired with controlled might—strength serving justice.