Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 20, Shloka 6

दूत-नीति, शुक-प्रसङ्गः

Envoy-Ethics and the Episode of Śuka

Devanagari script

बलंचामाकाशमावृत्यसर्वतोदशयोजनम् ।तत्त्वभूतंमहाराज क्षिप्रंवेदितुमर्हसि ।।।।

Transliteration

balaṃ cām ākāśam āvṛtya sarvato daśa-yojanam |

tattva-bhūtaṃ mahārāja kṣipraṃ veditum arhasi ||

Translation

Lại nữa, đạo quân ấy trải khắp bốn phương, như che phủ cả bầu trời trong mười do-tuần. Ôi Đại vương, ngài nên mau chóng biết rõ thực trạng chân thật.

Word by Word

• tava: your
• tava: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (त्वद् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्तिः (Genitive), एकवचनम्; सर्वनाम

• dūtāḥ: messengers/spies
• dūtāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dūta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्

• mahārāja: O great king
• mahārāja: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā + rāja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, सम्बोधन-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• kṣipram: quickly
• kṣipram: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kṣipram (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• arhanti: are fit/ought
• arhanti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: arh (अर्ह् धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकारः, प्रथमपुरुषः, बहुवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

• avekṣitum: to observe
• avekṣitum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ava + īkṣ (ईक्ष् धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive): to observe/inspect

• upapradānam: offering (gifts/bribe)
• upapradānam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: upa + pradāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; नीति-शब्दः (policy): offering/bribery/conciliation by gifts

• sāntvam: conciliation
• sāntvam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sāntva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; नीति-शब्दः: conciliation

• vā: or
• vā: Vikalpa (विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (disjunctive particle); अर्थः—वा (or)

• bhedaḥ: dissension
• bhedaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bheda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; नीति-शब्दः: dissension/creating division

• vā: or
• vā: Vikalpa (विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (or)

• atra: here
• atra: Deśa (देश)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atra (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb of place); अर्थः—अत्र (here/in this matter)

• prayujyatām: let it be employed
• prayujyatām: Vidhi (विधि/आज्ञा)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra + yuj (युज् धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकारः (Imperative), प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्; कर्मणि-प्रयोगः (passive): ‘let it be applied/used’

Context

"Having heard the lamentation, Rama said to the Vanaras" Do not kill him. Set him free as he had come as an envoy."৷৷ ইত্যার্ষেবাল্মীকীযেশ্রীমদ্রামাযণেআদিকাব্যেযুদ্ধকাণ্ডেবিংশস্সর্গঃ ৷৷This is the end of the twentieth sarga of Yuddha Kanda of the first epic the holy Ramayana composed by sage Valmiki.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Vānara army (implied)

FAQs

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

Satya (truth) in counsel: a ruler must face accurate information and respond responsibly, rather than denying reality.

What is the narrative situation?

A messenger warns Rāvaṇa about the scale and spread of the opposing forces, urging immediate understanding of the situation.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Prudence in governance: timely awareness and decision-making based on facts.