Sloka & Translation

[Ravana sends Suka as an envoy to Sugriva knowing that the Vanara army is advancing to Lanka. Vanaras capture Suka and Rama prevents the Vanaras from killing him and sets him free.]

ततोनिविष्टांध्वजिनींसुग्रीवेणाभिपालिताम् ।

ददर्शराक्षसोऽभ्येत्यशार्दूलोनामवीर्यवान् ।।6.20.1।।


ततः then, वीर्यवान् heroic one, शार्दूलोनाम: by name Shardula, राक्षसः Rakshasa, आभ्येत्य: entering into, निविष्टाम् encamped, सुग्रीवेण: by Sugriva, अभिपालिताम् under the command of, ध्वजिनीम् bearing a flag as a mark, ददर्श: saw.

Then the heroic Rakshasa called Shardula entered into the area encamped by the army under Sugriva's command and saw the sign flag of the army.
चारोराक्षसराजस्यरावणस्यदुरात्मनः ।

तांदृष्ट्वासर्वतोव्यग्रंप्रतिगम्यसराक्षसः ।।6.20.2।।

प्रविश्यलङ्कांवेगेनरावणंवाक्यमब्रवीत् ।


दुरात्मनः evil minded one, राक्षसराजस्य: Rakshasa kin g's, रावणस्य: Ravana's, चारः spy, सःराक्षसः that Rakshasa, अव्यग्रः not ruffled, ताम् that, सर्वतः all over, दृष्टवा: seeing, प्रतिगम्य: went back, वेगेन: speedily, लङ्काम् to Lanka, प्रविश्य: entered, रावणम् to Ravana, वाक्यम् these words, अब्रवीत् spoke.

The evil minded raskshasa who was a spy of Ravana went back to Lanka speedily unruffled after having observed all over the camp and spoke these words to Ravana.
एषवानरऋक्षौघोलङ्कांसमभिवर्तते ।

अगाधश्चाप्रमेयश्चद्वितीयइवसागरः ।।6.20.3।।


द्वितीयः second, सागरःइव: like the ocean, अगाधश्च: deep, आप्रमेयश्च: and immeasurable, एषः that way, वानरऋक्षौघः Vanaras and Bears, लङ्काम् into Lanka, समभिवर्तते: are heading towards.

As if it is a second ocean deep and immeasurable, the ocean of Vanaras and Bears are heading towards Lanka (reported the spy).
पुत्रौदशरथस्येमौभ्रातरौरामलक्ष्मणौ ।।6.20.4।।

उत्तमौरूपसम्पन्नौसीतायाःपदमागतौ ।

एतौसागरमासाद्यसन्निविष्टौमहाद्युती ।।6.20.5।।


दशरथस्य: Dasaratha's, पुत्रौ: sons, उत्तमौ: great, रूपसम्पन्नौ: endowed with beautiful form, महाद्युती: exceptional fortitude, भ्रातरौ: brothers, इमौ: these, रामलक्ष्मणौ: Rama and Lakshmana, सीतायाः Sita's, पदम् to set foot, आगतौ: have come, सागरम् sea, आसाद्य: reached, सन्निविष्टौ: settled.

"Great sons of Dasaratha, Rama and Lakshmana, endowed with beautiful form and exceptional fortitude have come and set their foot on the seashore and settled to come to Sita."
बलंचामाकाशमावृत्यसर्वतोदशयोजनम् ।

तत्त्वभूतंमहाराज क्षिप्रंवेदितुमर्हसि ।।6.20.6।।


महाराज: O king, बलंच: army also, सर्वतः all over, दशयोजनम् ten yojanas, आयतम् spread, आकाशम् sky, आवृत्य: going round, तत्त्वभूतम् real situation, क्षिप्रम् at once, वेदितुम् should know, अर्हसि: you ought to.

"Mighty king Ravana the army also is spread all over ten yojanas. I have seen going round the sky. You ought to know the real situation at once."
तवदूतामहाराजक्षिप्रमर्हन्त्यवेक्षितुम् ।

उपप्रदानंसान्त्वंवाभेदोवात्रप्रयुज्यताम् ।।6.20.7।।


महाराज: O king, तव: your, दूताः spies, क्षिप्रम् at once, अवेक्षितुम् seeing, अर्हन्ति: having a claim, उपप्रदानम् entrusting, सान्त्वंवा: by conciliation, भेदोवा: by creating difference, अत्रप्रयुज्यताम् to be deployed there.

"O king at once your spies should be deployed there and entrusted to have claims either by conciliation or creating differences."
शार्दूलस्यवचश्श्रुत्वारावणोराक्षसेश्वरः ।

उवाचसहसाव्यग्रस्सम्प्रधार्यार्थमात्मनः ।।6.20.8।।

शुकंनामतदारक्षोवाक्यमर्थविदांवरम् ।


राक्षसेश्वरः Lord of Rakshasas, रावणः Ravana, शार्दूलस्य: Shardula's, वचः words, श्रुत्वा: on hearing, सहसा: rashly, व्यग्रः disturbed, आत्मनः own self, अर्थम् What to do, सम्प्रधार्य: as usual, तदा: then, अर्थविदाम् praising, वरम् supreme, शुकंनाम: called Suka, रक्षः to protect, वाक्यम् these words, उवाच: spoke.

Ravana the tiger among Rakshasas, after having heard Shardula's words decided within himself and said to Suka who is good at work praising him very much as usual.
सुग्रीवंब्रूहिगत्वाशुराजानंवचनान्मम ।

यथासन्देशमक्लीबंश्लक्ष्णयापरयागिरा ।।6.20.9।।


राजानम् to the king, सुग्रीवम् to Sugriva, आशु: fast, गत्वा: approaching, मम: my, वचनात् words, यथासन्देशम् this message, परया: stranger, श्लक्ष्णया: gently, गिरा speaking, अक्लीबम् without getting disturbed, ब्रूहि: to speak.

"Departing quickly, speak to the king Sugriva boldly without getting disturbed but in a gentle way and communicate this message."
त्वंवैमहाराजकुलप्रसूतोमहाबलश्चर् क्षरजस्सुतश्च ।

नकश्चिदार्थस्तवनास्त्यनर्थस्तथाहिमेभ्रातृसमोहरीश ।।6.20.10।।


महाराज: O king, हरीश: Vanara, त्वम् your, कुलप्रसूतःवै: eminent kings, महाबलश्च: mighty strong, ऋक्षरजस्सुतश्च: and Rksharaja's son, तव: your, अर्थः meaning, कश्चन: a little, नास्ति: not, अनर्थः harm, न: not, तथापि: so also, मे: I am, भ्रातृसमः like your brother.

"O Sugriva, king of Vanaras You are born in a race of eminent kings, a mighty son of Rksharaja. Even a little harm has not been done to you by me. I am like your brother (Ravana's words to Sugriva to be communicated by Suka)."
अहंयद्यहरंभार्यांराजपुत्रस्यधीमतः ।

किंतत्रतवसुग्रीव: किष्किन्धांप्रतिगम्यताम् ।।6.20.11।।


सुग्रीव: Sugriva, धीमतः wise one, राजपुत्रस्य: prince's, भार्याम् consort, अहम् I, अहरंयदि: even if I have brought away also, तत्र: there, तव: your, किम् what, किष्किन्धांप्रति: return to Kishkinda, गम्यताम् to reach.

"Sugriva What harm is done to you if I have brought the consort of prince? You are a wise one, go back to Kishkinda."
नहीयंहरिभिर्लङ्काशक्याप्राप्तुंकथञ्चन ।

देवैरपिसगन्धर्वैःकिंपुनर्नरवानरैः ।।6.20.12।।


इयंलङ्का: in this Lanka, हरिभिः even Vanaras, प्राप्तुम् to get here, नशक्याहि: is not possible, सगन्धर्वैः even Gandharvas, देवैरपि: even Devas also, नरवानरैः of humans and Vanaras, किंपुनः what to say.

"It is not possible for Vanaras to get here even for Gandharvas or Devas also. What to say of humans and Vanaras? (You may tell this to Sugriva)."
सतथाराक्षसेन्द्रेणसन्दिष्टोरजनीचरः ।

शुकोविहङ्गमोभूत्वातूर्णमाप्लुत्यचाम्बरम् ।।6.20.13।।


तथा: so, राक्षसेन्द्रे: ruler of Rakshasas, सन्दिष्टः commanded thus, सः that, शुकः Suka, विहङ्गमः bird, भूत्वा: transforming, अम्बरम् sky, तूर्णम् immediately, आप्लुत्यच: rose apace into.

Thus, commanded by the ruler of Rakshasas, Suka immediately transformed into a bird form and rose apace into the sky.
सगत्वादूरमध्वानमुपर्युपरिसागरम् ।

संस्थितोह्यम्बरेवाक्यंसुग्रीवमिदमब्रवीत् ।।6.20.14।।


सः he (Suka), सागरम् ocean, दूरम् long way, अध्वानम् having distant space, गत्वा: gone, अम्बरे: in the sky, संस्थितः stationed, सुग्रीवम् to Sugriva, इदम् these, वाक्यम् words, अब्रवीत् spoke.

Suka having gone a long way in the sky to a distant place, stationed there spoke these words to Sugriva.
सर्वमुक्तंयथादिष्टंरावणेनदुरात्मना ।

तंप्रापयन्तंवचनंतूर्णमाप्लुत्यवानराः ।।6.20.15।।

प्रापद्यन्तदिवंक्षिप्रंलोप्तुंहन्तुंचमुष्टिभि: ।


दुरात्मना: evil minded one, रावणेन: by Ravana, यथा: thus, आदिष्टम् commanded, सर्वम् everything, उक्तम् spoke, तम् his, वचनम् words, प्रापयन्तम् while communicating, वानराः Vanara, अप्लुत्य: rose up तदा:: then, क्षिप्रम् at once, लोप्तुम् injuring, मुष्टिभिः with fists, हन्तुंच: to kill, प्रापद्यन्त: started.

Thus, commanded by evil minded Ravana, Suka communicated everything as spoken by Ravana. At once the Vanaras rose and started to injure Suka with their fists.
सतैःप्लवङ्गैःप्रसभंनिगृहीतोनिशाचरः ।

गगनाद्भूतलेचाशुपरिगृह्यनिपातितः ।।6.20.16।।


सतैः the bird Suka, प्लवङ्गैः leaping animals, प्रसभम् violently, निगृहीतः seizing, निशाचरः night ranger, आशु: at once, परिगृह्य: held, गगनात् from the sky, भूतले: to the ground, निपातितः thrown down.

At once the Vanaras violently seized the night ranger Suka and held him and threw him down to the ground from the sky.
वानरैःपीड्यमानस्तुशुकोवचनमब्रवीत् ।

नदूतान्घ्नन्तिकाकुत्स्थ वार्यन्तांसाधुवानराः ।।6.20.17।।


वानरैः: by Vanaras, पीड्यमानस्तु: being attacked, शुकोवचनमब्रवीत् Suka told these words, न: not, दूतान्: messenger, घ्नन्ति: to be killed. काकुत्स्थ: Rama of Kakuthsa race, वानराः Vanaras, साधु: good, वार्यन्ताम् prevented.

Being attacked by Vanaras, Suka told these words. "Oh Kakuthsa Rama messengers should not be killed. It will be good to prevent the Vanaras."
यस्तुहित्वामतंभर्तुस्स्वमतंसम्प्रभाषते ।

अनुक्तवादीदूतस्सन् सदूतोवधमर्हति ।।6.20.18।।


यः he who, भर्तुः king's, मतम् opinion, हित्वा: putting aside, स्वमतम् his own opinion, सम्प्रभाषते: expresses, धूतस्सन् envoy's, अनुक्तवादी: speaks that which has not been said by the king, सः such he, दूतः messenger, वधम् killing, अर्हति: ought to.

"The envoy who puts aside the king's opinion and expresses his own opinion, which has not been said by the king ought to be killed."
शुकस्यवचनंश्रुत्वारामस्तुपरिदेवितम् ।

उवाचमावधिष्टेतिघ्नतश्शाखामृगर्षभान् ।।6.20.19।।


रामः Rama, शुकस्य Suka's, वचनम् words, परिदेवितम् appeal, श्रुत्वा after hearing, घ्नतः shouting, शाखमृगर्षभान् animals that jump about branches of trees, (Vanaras), मावधिष्टेति: indicated not to kill, इति: thus, उवाच: said.

After hearing the appeal of Suka and seeing the monkeys shouting, Rama spoke indicating not to kill him.
सचपत्रलघुर्भूत्वाहरिभिर्दर्शितेभये ।

अन्तरिक्षेस्थितोभूत्वापुनर्वचनमब्रवीत् ।।6.20.20।।


सः he, च and, हरिभिः monkeys also, अभये feeling secure, दर्शिते exhibited, पत्रलघुः light winged Suka, भूत्वा existing, अन्तरिक्षे in the sky, स्थितः settled, भूत्वा being, पुनः again, वचनम् these words, अब्रवीत् spoke.

Suka, felt secure in the air and finding monkeys also settled, once again spoke these words.
सुग्रीव:स त्त्वसम्पन्न: महाबलपराक्रम: ।

किंमयाखलुवक्तव्योरावणोलोकरावणः ।।6.20.21।।


सत्त्वसम्पन्न rich in spirit, महाबलपराक्रम mighty prowess and strength, सुग्रीव Sugriva, लोकरावणः one who makes the world cry, रावणः Ravana, मया by me, किम् what, वक्तव्य should I convey.

"Oh Sugriva Who is rich in spirit and endowed with mighty prowess What should I convey to Ravana who makes the world cry?"
सएवमुक्तःप्लवगाधिपस्तदाप्लवङ्गमानामृषभोमहाबलः ।

उवाचवाक्यंरजनीचरस्यचारंशुकंतूर्णमदीनसत्त्वः ।।6.20.22।।


तदा: then, एवम् in that way, उक्तः having spoken, महाबलः strong, प्लवगाधिपः leader of monkeys, सः he, अदीनसत्त्वः one who is not depressed in spirit, रजनीचरस्य: to the Rakshasa's, चारम् spy, तूर्णम् quickly, शुकम् to Suka, वाक्यम् words, उवाच: spoke.

Suka having spoken in that way, Sugriva the leader of the monkeys who was not depressed in his spirit spoke these pleasant words to the Rakshasa spy.
नमेऽसिमित्रंनतथानुकम्प्योनचोपकर्तापिनमेप्रियोऽसि ।

अरिश्चरामस्यसहानुबन्धस्ततोऽसिवालीववधार्हवध्यः ।।6.20.23।।


वधार्ह: one who deserves death, मे: my, मित्रम् friend, नअसि: is not, तथा: likewise, अनुकम्प्यः worthy of sympathy, न: not, उपकर्ताच: well wisher, नअसि: are not, मे: my, प्रियः beloved, नअपि: also not, रामस्य: Rama's, अरिः enemy, ततः that, वालीव: Vali's, सहानुबन्धः like relative, वध्यः killed, असि: to be.

"O Rakshasa, you are the one who deserves death (Convey to Ravana this as my word). You are an enemy to my friend, like wise you are not worthy of sympathy, not my well wisher and also not dear to me. You are Rama's enemy, so like your relative Vali you are to be killed."
निह्नन्म्यहंत्वांससुतंसबन्धुंसज्ञातिवर्गरजनीचरेश ।

लङ्काञ्चसर्वांमहताबलेनक्षिप्रंकरिष्यामिसमेत्यभस्म ।।6.20.24।।


रजनीचरेश: one who wanders at night (Rakshasa), ससुतम् your sons, सबन्धुं: your relatives, सज्ञातिवर्गम् your kinsfolk, त्वाम् you, अहम् I, निहम्नि: will kill, महता: mighty, बलेन: prowess, समेत्यसर्वाम् altogether, लङ्काम् even Lanka, क्षिप्रम् at once, भस्म: burn to ashes, करिष्यामि: I will turn into.

"O Night ranger Ravana I shall kill all your sons, relatives, your kinsfolk. I shall come at once and even burn Lanka into ashes with my mighty prowess."
नमोक्षयसेरावण: राघवस्यसुरैस्सहेन्द्रैदपिमूढगुप्तः ।

अन्तर्हितस्सूर्यपथंगतोऽवा ।तथैवपातालमनुप्रविष्टः ।।6.20.25।।

गिरीशपादम्बुजसङ्गतोवाहतोऽसिरामेणसहानुजस्त्वम् ।।6.20.26।।


रावण: Ravana, मूढ: foolish, सहेन्द्रैः including Indra, सर्वै: all, गुप्तःअपि: even to a secret place, अन्तर्हितः are rendered invisible by your interposition, सूर्यपथम् into the orbit of Sun, गतोवा: even if you go, तथैव: so also, पातालम् to underground, अनुप्रविष्टः even if you enter, गिरीशपादाम्बुजसङ्गतोवा: or even if you seek the lotus feet of Lord Siva, राघवस्य: from Rama, नमोक्षयसे: cannot escape, सहानुजः along with your brother, त्वम् you, रामेण: by Rama, हतः slain, असि: will be.

"O Foolish Ravana Even if you go to a secret place, or rendered invisible by your interposition, or go into the orbit of the Sun, or go underground to Patala or go to the feet of Lord Siva for protection, you cannot escape from Rama. You along with your brother will be slain."
तस्यतेत्रिषुलोकेषुनपिशाचंनराक्षसम् ।

त्रातारमनुपश्यामिनगन्धर्वंनचासुरम् ।।6.20.27।।


तस्य: your, ते: to you, त्रातारम् saved, त्रिषुलोकेषु: in the three world, नअनुपश्यामि: I do not see, पिशाचम् devils, न: not, राक्षसम् Rakshasas, न: not, गन्दर्वम् Gandharvas, न: not, च: also, न: not.

"I do not see anyone who can save you in these three worlds, not Rakshasas, not devils or even Gandharvas."
अवधीर्यजरावृद्दंगृध्रराजंजटायुषम् ।

किंनुतेरामसान्निध्येसकाशेलक्ष्मणस्यवा ।।6.20.28।।

हृतासीताविशालाक्षीयांत्वंगृह्यनबुध्यसे ।


जरावृद्धम् aged and old, गृध्रराजम् vulture, जटायुषम् that Jatayu, अवधीर्य: killed disregard, त्वम् you, याम् restrained, गृह्य: seize, नबुधघ्यसे: not heed to, विशालाक्षीं: broadeyed, सीता: Sita, रामसान्निध्ये: in the presence of Rama, लक्ष्मणस्यच: and Lakshmana, सकाशे: in the presence of, किंनु: why did you, नहृता: not take away.

"When the aged and old vulture Jatayu restrained you, why did you disregard and seize broadeyed Sita? Why did you not take her away in the presence of Rama or even Lakshmana?"
महाबलंमहात्मानंदुर्धर्षममरैरपि ।

नबुध्यसेरघुश्रेष्ठंयस्तेप्राणान्हरिष्यति ।।6.20.29।।


यः he who, ते: your, प्राणान् life, हरिष्यति: will take away, महाबलम् extraordinary might, महात्मानम् a benevolent one, अमरैरपि: like Indra, दुर्धर्षम् difficult to overcome, रघुश्रेष्ठम् foremost of Raghus, नबुध्यसे: you do not understand.

"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."
ततोऽब्रवीद्वालिसुतस्त्वङ्गदोहरिसत्तमः ।

नायंदूतोमहाराजचारिकःप्रतिभातिमे ।।6.20.30।।


ततः that, वालिसुतः Vali's son, हरिसत्तमः noble one of the Vanaras, अङ्गदः Angada, अब्रवीत् said, महाराज: king, अयम् this, दूतः messenger, न: not, चारिकः spy, मे: to me, प्रतिभाति: it appears.

"Then Angada, the noble one among Vanaras, the son of Vali, said," O King, to me it appears that he is not a messenger but a spy."
तुलितंहिबलंसर्वमनेनात्रैवतिष्ठता ।

गृह्यतांमागमल्लङ्कामेतद्दिममरोचते ।।6.20.31।।


तिष्ठता: standing, अनेन: surely, सर्वम् entire, बलम् strength of the army, तुलितम् हि: has been assessed, गृह्यताम् take him captive, लङ्काम् to Lanka, मागमत् not return, एतत् thus, मम: I, रोचते: wish.

"While standing here surely he has assessed the entire strength of the army. I hope he is taken as a captive and not returned to Lanka."
ततोराज्ञासमादिष्टास्समुत्पत्यवलीमुखाः ।

जगृहुश्चबबन्धुश्चविलपन्तमनाथवत् ।।6.20.32।।


तः then, राज्ञा: by the king, समादिष्टाः having been commanded, वलीमुखाः the bird Suka, समुत्पत्य: getting up, अनाथवत् like a forlorn one, विलपन्तम् wailing, जगृहुश्च: caught him, बबन्धुश्च: and bound.

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

व्याचुक्रोशमहात्मानंरामंदशरथात्मजम् ।।6.20.33।।


तत्र: thereafter, चण्डैः severely, तैःवानरैः by the Vanaras, सम्प्रपीडितः tormented, शुकस्तु: at Suka, महात्मानम् benevolent, दशरथात्मजम् Dasaratha's son, रामम् Rama, व्याचुक्रोश: went towards.

"Thereafter Suka who was severely tormented by the Vanaras went towards benevolent Rama and wailed."
लुप्येतेमेबलात्पक्षौभिद्येतेमेतथाऽक्षिणी ।।6.20.34।।

यांचरात्रिंमरिष्यामिजायेरात्रिंचयामहम् ।

एतस्मिन्नन्तरेकालेयन्मयाह्यशुभंकृतम् ।।6.20.35।।

सर्वंत्वमुपपद्येधाजह्यांचेद्यदिजीवितम् ।


मे: my पक्षौ: wings, बलात् forcibly, लुप्येते: are cut off, तथा: likewise, मे: my अक्षिणी: eyes, भिद्येते: are injured, अहम् I, यांच: from that, रात्रिम् night, जाये: I was born, यंचरात्रिम् till the night, मरिष्यामि: I am dead, एतस्मिन् on account of this, अन्तरेकाले: in the intervening time, मया: by me, यत् that which, अशुभम् inauspicious, कृतम् action, तत् that, सर्वम् all sins, जीवितम् life, जह्यां: leaving my original form, चेद्यदि: even, उपपद्येथाः will happen.

"If my wings are cut off and my eyes are injured, on account of that inauspicious act you will take on all sins of my life from the night I was born till the night I am dead leaving my original form, even will happen (Suka tells Rama)."
नाघातयत्तदारामश्श्रुत्वातत्परिदेवनम् ।

वानरानब्रवीद्रामोमुच्यतांदूतआगतः ।।6.20.36।।


तदा: then, रामः Rama, तत् that, परिदेवनम् lamentation, श्रुत्वा: having heard, नाघातयत् do not kill, दूतः envoy, आगतः come, मुच्यताम् set free, वानरान् to Vanaras, अब्रवीत् spoke.

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