Shloka 33

दूत-नीति, शुक-प्रसङ्गः

Envoy-Ethics and the Episode of Śuka

Devanagari script

शुकस्तुवानरैश्चण्डैस्तत्रतैस्सम्प्रपीडितः ।व्याचुक्रोशमहात्मानंरामंदशरथात्मजम् ।।।।

Transliteration

śukas tu vānaraiś caṇḍais tatra tais samprapīḍitaḥ |

vyācukrośa mahātmānaṃ rāmaṃ daśarathātmajam ||

Translation

然而，舒迦在彼处被那些凶猛的猿众严厉逼迫，便向大心的罗摩——达沙罗陀之子——高声呼喊。

Word by Word

• शुकः: Suka
• शुकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha/Particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधान-निपात

• वानरैः: by the vanaras
• वानरैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वानर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• चण्डैः: fierce
• चण्डैः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक

• तैः: by them
• तैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• सम्प्रपीडितः: tormented
• सम्प्रपीडितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्+प्र√पीड् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (PPP); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘being tormented’

• व्याचुक्रोश: cried out to
• व्याचुक्रोश: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि+आ√क्रुश् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• महात्मानम्: great-souled
• महात्मानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (of रामम्)

• रामम्: Rama
• रामम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• दशरथात्मजम्: son of Dasaratha
• दशरथात्मजम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दशरथात्मज (प्रातिपदिक; दशरथ+आत्मज)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; उपाधि/विशेषण (apposition to रामम्)

Context

Then having been commanded by the king he caught the forlorn wailing Rakshasa Suka and bound him.

Characters & Entities

• Śuka
• Vānaras
• Rāma
• Daśaratha

FAQs

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

Even an enemy seeks refuge in a righteous leader; dharma tests power through restraint and fair treatment of captives.

What is the narrative situation?

The captured Śuka, suffering rough handling, appeals directly to Rāma’s known greatness of character.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s reputation for compassion and justice—so strong that even opponents call upon it.