Shloka 28

शुकसारणनिग्रहः / Ravana Rebukes Suka and Sārana; Spies Reconnoiter Rama’s Camp

Devanagari script

मोचितस्सोऽपिरामेणवध्यमानःप्लवङ्गमैः ।अनृशंस्येनरामेणमोचिताराक्षसाःपरे ।।।।

Transliteration

mocitas so 'pi rāmeṇa vadhyamānaḥ plavaṅgamaiḥ | anṛśaṃsyena rāmeṇa mocitā rākṣasāḥ pare ||

Translation

Dẫu bầy khỉ muốn giết hắn, Rāma vẫn thả hắn; và nhờ lòng từ mẫn của Rāma, các Rākṣasa khác cũng được phóng thích.

Word by Word

• mocitaḥ: released, freed
• mocitaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mocita (कृदन्त; √muc मुच् धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; past passive participle

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• api: also, even
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

• rāmeṇa: by Rama
• rāmeṇa: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; instrumental

• vadhyamānaḥ: being attacked/killed
• vadhyamānaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vadhyamāna (कृदन्त; √vadh वध् धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शानच्/मान), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; passive sense: 'being killed/struck'

• plavaṅgamaiḥ: by the monkeys
• plavaṅgamaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: plavaṅgama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; instrumental

• anṛśaṃsyena: through compassion
• anṛśaṃsyena: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anṛśaṃsya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; instrumental; 'by compassion/non-cruelty'

• rāmeṇa: by Rama
• rāmeṇa: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; instrumental

• mocitāḥ: were released
• mocitāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mocita (कृदन्त; √muc मुच् धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; agrees with rākṣasāḥ

• rākṣasāḥ: rakshasas
• rākṣasāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rākṣasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• pare: other, remaining
• pare: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; agrees with rākṣasāḥ

Context

As the monkeys attempted to kill him (Saardula), compassionate Rama released him and also the other Rakshasas.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Vānara warriors (plavaṅgama)
• Śārdūla (implied as “he too”)

FAQs

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

Rāma’s dharma is anṛśaṃsya (non-cruelty): even toward enemies, punishment is not automatic; restraint and humane judgment govern action.

What is the narrative situation?

After the spies are seized and threatened by the vānara troops, Rāma intervenes and orders their release.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Compassionate kingship—Rāma prevents excessive violence and upholds measured justice.