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.]

tatōniviṣṭāṅdhvajinīṅsugrīvēṇābhipālitām .

dadarśarākṣasō.bhyētyaśārdūlōnāmavīryavān ।।6.20.1।।

tataḥ then, vīryavān heroic one, śārdūlōnāma: by name Shardula, rākṣasaḥ Rakshasa, ābhyētya: entering into, niviṣṭām encamped, sugrīvēṇa: by Sugriva, abhipālitām under the command of, dhvajinīm bearing a flag as a mark, dadarśa: 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.

cārōrākṣasarājasyarāvaṇasyadurātmanaḥ .

tāṅdṛṣṭvāsarvatōvyagraṅpratigamyasarākṣasaḥ ।।6.20.2।।

praviśyalaṅkāṅvēgēnarāvaṇaṅvākyamabravīt .

durātmanaḥ evil minded one, rākṣasarājasya: Rakshasa kin g's, rāvaṇasya: Ravana's, cāraḥ spy, saḥrākṣasaḥ that Rakshasa, avyagraḥ not ruffled, tām that, sarvataḥ all over, dṛṣṭavā: seeing, pratigamya: went back, vēgēna: speedily, laṅkām to Lanka, praviśya: entered, rāvaṇam to Ravana, vākyam these words, abravīt 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.

ēṣavānaraṛkṣaughōlaṅkāṅsamabhivartatē .

agādhaścāpramēyaścadvitīyaivasāgaraḥ ।।6.20.3।।

dvitīyaḥ second, sāgaraḥiva: like the ocean, agādhaśca: deep, āpramēyaśca: and immeasurable, ēṣaḥ that way, vānaraṛkṣaughaḥ Vanaras and Bears, laṅkām into Lanka, samabhivartatē: 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).

putraudaśarathasyēmaubhrātaraurāmalakṣmaṇau ।।6.20.4।।

uttamaurūpasampannausītāyāḥpadamāgatau .

ētausāgaramāsādyasanniviṣṭaumahādyutī ।।6.20.5।।

daśarathasya: Dasaratha's, putrau: sons, uttamau: great, rūpasampannau: endowed with beautiful form, mahādyutī: exceptional fortitude, bhrātarau: brothers, imau: these, rāmalakṣmaṇau: Rama and Lakshmana, sītāyāḥ Sita's, padam to set foot, āgatau: have come, sāgaram sea, āsādya: reached, sanniviṣṭau: 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."

balaṅcāmākāśamāvṛtyasarvatōdaśayōjanam .

tattvabhūtaṅmahārāja kṣipraṅvēditumarhasi ।।6.20.6।।

mahārāja: O king, balaṅca: army also, sarvataḥ all over, daśayōjanam ten yojanas, āyatam spread, ākāśam sky, āvṛtya: going round, tattvabhūtam real situation, kṣipram at once, vēditum should know, arhasi: 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."

tavadūtāmahārājakṣipramarhantyavēkṣitum .

upapradānaṅsāntvaṅvābhēdōvātraprayujyatām ।।6.20.7।।

mahārāja: O king!, tava: your, dūtāḥ spies, kṣipram at once, avēkṣitum seeing, arhanti: having a claim, upapradānam entrusting, sāntvaṅvā: by conciliation, bhēdōvā: by creating difference, atraprayujyatām 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."

śārdūlasyavacaśśrutvārāvaṇōrākṣasēśvaraḥ .

uvācasahasāvyagrassampradhāryārthamātmanaḥ ।।6.20.8।।

śukaṅnāmatadārakṣōvākyamarthavidāṅvaram .

rākṣasēśvaraḥ Lord of Rakshasas, rāvaṇaḥ Ravana, śārdūlasya: Shardula's, vacaḥ words, śrutvā: on hearing, sahasā: rashly, vyagraḥ disturbed, ātmanaḥ own self, artham What to do, sampradhārya: as usual, tadā: then, arthavidām praising, varam supreme, śukaṅnāma: called Suka, rakṣaḥ to protect, vākyam these words, uvāca: 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.

sugrīvaṅbrūhigatvāśurājānaṅvacanānmama .

yathāsandēśamaklībaṅślakṣṇayāparayāgirā ।।6.20.9।।

rājānam to the king, sugrīvam to Sugriva, āśu: fast, gatvā: approaching, mama: my, vacanāt words, yathāsandēśam this message, parayā: stranger, ślakṣṇayā: gently, girā speaking, aklībam without getting disturbed, brūhi: to speak.

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

tvaṅvaimahārājakulaprasūtōmahābalaścar kṣarajassutaśca .

nakaścidārthastavanāstyanarthastathāhimēbhrātṛsamōharīśa ।।6.20.10।।

mahārāja: O king, harīśa: Vanara, tvam your, kulaprasūtaḥvai: eminent kings, mahābalaśca: mighty strong, ṛkṣarajassutaśca: and Rksharaja's son, tava: your, arthaḥ meaning, kaścana: a little, nāsti: not, anarthaḥ harm, na: not, tathāpi: so also, mē: I am, bhrātṛsamaḥ 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)."

ahaṅyadyaharaṅbhāryāṅrājaputrasyadhīmataḥ .

kiṅtatratavasugrīva: kiṣkindhāṅpratigamyatām ।।6.20.11।।

sugrīva: Sugriva, dhīmataḥ wise one, rājaputrasya: prince's, bhāryām consort, aham I, aharaṅyadi: even if I have brought away also, tatra: there, tava: your, kim what, kiṣkindhāṅprati: return to Kishkinda, gamyatām 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."

nahīyaṅharibhirlaṅkāśakyāprāptuṅkathañcana .

dēvairapisagandharvaiḥkiṅpunarnaravānaraiḥ ।।6.20.12।।

iyaṅlaṅkā: in this Lanka, haribhiḥ even Vanaras, prāptum to get here, naśakyāhi: is not possible, sagandharvaiḥ even Gandharvas, dēvairapi: even Devas also, naravānaraiḥ of humans and Vanaras, kiṅpunaḥ 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)."

satathārākṣasēndrēṇasandiṣṭōrajanīcaraḥ .

śukōvihaṅgamōbhūtvātūrṇamāplutyacāmbaram ।।6.20.13।।

tathā: so, rākṣasēndrē: ruler of Rakshasas, sandiṣṭaḥ commanded thus, saḥ that, śukaḥ Suka, vihaṅgamaḥ bird, bhūtvā: transforming, ambaram sky, tūrṇam immediately, āplutyaca: rose apace into.

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

sagatvādūramadhvānamuparyuparisāgaram .

saṅsthitōhyambarēvākyaṅsugrīvamidamabravīt ।।6.20.14।।

saḥ he (Suka), sāgaram ocean, dūram long way, adhvānam having distant space, gatvā: gone, ambarē: in the sky, saṅsthitaḥ stationed, sugrīvam to Sugriva, idam these, vākyam words, abravīt spoke.

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

sarvamuktaṅyathādiṣṭaṅrāvaṇēnadurātmanā .

taṅprāpayantaṅvacanaṅtūrṇamāplutyavānarāḥ ।।6.20.15।।

prāpadyantadivaṅkṣipraṅlōptuṅhantuṅcamuṣṭibhi: .

durātmanā: evil minded one, rāvaṇēna: by Ravana, yathā: thus, ādiṣṭam commanded, sarvam everything, uktam spoke, tam his, vacanam words, prāpayantam while communicating, vānarāḥ Vanara, aplutya: rose up tadā:: then, kṣipram at once, lōptum injuring, muṣṭibhiḥ with fists, hantuṅca: to kill, prāpadyanta: 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.

sataiḥplavaṅgaiḥprasabhaṅnigṛhītōniśācaraḥ .

gaganādbhūtalēcāśuparigṛhyanipātitaḥ ।।6.20.16।।

sataiḥ the bird Suka, plavaṅgaiḥ leaping animals, prasabham violently, nigṛhītaḥ seizing, niśācaraḥ night ranger, āśu: at once, parigṛhya: held, gaganāt from the sky, bhūtalē: to the ground, nipātitaḥ 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.

vānaraiḥpīḍyamānastuśukōvacanamabravīt .

nadūtānghnantikākutstha vāryantāṅsādhuvānarāḥ ।।6.20.17।।

vānaraiḥ: by Vanaras, pīḍyamānastu: being attacked, śukōvacanamabravīt Suka told these words, na: not, dūtān: messenger, ghnanti: to be killed. kākutstha: Rama of Kakuthsa race, vānarāḥ Vanaras, sādhu: good, vāryantām 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."

yastuhitvāmataṅbhartussvamataṅsamprabhāṣatē .

anuktavādīdūtassan sadūtōvadhamarhati ।।6.20.18।।

yaḥ he who, bhartuḥ king's, matam opinion, hitvā: putting aside, svamatam his own opinion, samprabhāṣatē: expresses, dhūtassan envoy's, anuktavādī: speaks that which has not been said by the king, saḥ such he, dūtaḥ messenger, vadham killing, arhati: 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."

śukasyavacanaṅśrutvārāmastuparidēvitam .

uvācamāvadhiṣṭētighnataśśākhāmṛgarṣabhān ।।6.20.19।।

rāmaḥ Rama, śukasya Suka's, vacanam words, paridēvitam appeal, śrutvā after hearing, ghnataḥ shouting, śākhamṛgarṣabhān animals that jump about branches of trees, (Vanaras), māvadhiṣṭēti: indicated not to kill, iti: thus, uvāca: said.

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

sacapatralaghurbhūtvāharibhirdarśitēbhayē .

antarikṣēsthitōbhūtvāpunarvacanamabravīt ।।6.20.20।।

saḥ he, ca and, haribhiḥ monkeys also, abhayē feeling secure, darśitē exhibited, patralaghuḥ light winged Suka, bhūtvā existing, antarikṣē in the sky, sthitaḥ settled, bhūtvā being, punaḥ again, vacanam these words, abravīt spoke.

Suka, felt secure in the air and finding monkeys also settled, once again spoke these words.

sugrīva:sa ttvasampanna: mahābalaparākrama: .

kiṅmayākhaluvaktavyōrāvaṇōlōkarāvaṇaḥ ।।6.20.21।।

sattvasampanna rich in spirit, mahābalaparākrama mighty prowess and strength, sugrīva Sugriva, lōkarāvaṇaḥ one who makes the world cry, rāvaṇaḥ Ravana, mayā by me, kim what, vaktavya 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?"

saēvamuktaḥplavagādhipastadāplavaṅgamānāmṛṣabhōmahābalaḥ .

uvācavākyaṅrajanīcarasyacāraṅśukaṅtūrṇamadīnasattvaḥ ।।6.20.22।।

tadā: then, ēvam in that way, uktaḥ having spoken, mahābalaḥ strong, plavagādhipaḥ leader of monkeys, saḥ he, adīnasattvaḥ one who is not depressed in spirit, rajanīcarasya: to the Rakshasa's, cāram spy, tūrṇam quickly, śukam to Suka, vākyam words, uvāca: 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.

namē.simitraṅnatathānukampyōnacōpakartāpinamēpriyō.si .

ariścarāmasyasahānubandhastatō.sivālīvavadhārhavadhyaḥ ।।6.20.23।।

vadhārha: one who deserves death, mē: my, mitram friend, naasi: is not, tathā: likewise, anukampyaḥ worthy of sympathy, na: not, upakartāca: well wisher, naasi: are not, mē: my, priyaḥ beloved, naapi: also not, rāmasya: Rama's, ariḥ enemy, tataḥ that, vālīva: Vali's, sahānubandhaḥ like relative, vadhyaḥ killed, asi: 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."

nihnanmyahaṅtvāṅsasutaṅsabandhuṅsajñātivargarajanīcarēśa .

laṅkāñcasarvāṅmahatābalēnakṣipraṅkariṣyāmisamētyabhasma ।।6.20.24।।

rajanīcarēśa: one who wanders at night (Rakshasa), sasutam your sons, sabandhuṅ: your relatives, sajñātivargam your kinsfolk, tvām you, aham I, nihamni: will kill, mahatā: mighty, balēna: prowess, samētyasarvām altogether, laṅkām even Lanka, kṣipram at once, bhasma: burn to ashes, kariṣyāmi: 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."

namōkṣayasērāvaṇa: rāghavasyasuraissahēndraidapimūḍhaguptaḥ .

antarhitassūryapathaṅgatō.vā .tathaivapātālamanupraviṣṭaḥ ।।6.20.25।।

girīśapādambujasaṅgatōvāhatō.sirāmēṇasahānujastvam ।।6.20.26।।

rāvaṇa: Ravana, mūḍha: foolish, sahēndraiḥ including Indra, sarvai: all, guptaḥapi: even to a secret place, antarhitaḥ are rendered invisible by your interposition, sūryapatham into the orbit of Sun, gatōvā: even if you go, tathaiva: so also, pātālam to underground, anupraviṣṭaḥ even if you enter, girīśapādāmbujasaṅgatōvā: or even if you seek the lotus feet of Lord Siva, rāghavasya: from Rama, namōkṣayasē: cannot escape, sahānujaḥ along with your brother, tvam you, rāmēṇa: by Rama, hataḥ slain, asi: 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."

tasyatētriṣulōkēṣunapiśācaṅnarākṣasam .

trātāramanupaśyāminagandharvaṅnacāsuram ।।6.20.27।।

tasya: your, tē: to you, trātāram saved, triṣulōkēṣu: in the three world, naanupaśyāmi: I do not see, piśācam devils, na: not, rākṣasam Rakshasas, na: not, gandarvam Gandharvas, na: not, ca: also, na: not.

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

avadhīryajarāvṛddaṅgṛdhrarājaṅjaṭāyuṣam .

kiṅnutērāmasānnidhyēsakāśēlakṣmaṇasyavā ।।6.20.28।।

hṛtāsītāviśālākṣīyāṅtvaṅgṛhyanabudhyasē .

jarāvṛddham aged and old, gṛdhrarājam vulture, jaṭāyuṣam that Jatayu, avadhīrya: killed disregard, tvam you, yām restrained, gṛhya: seize, nabudhaghyasē: not heed to, viśālākṣīṅ: broad-eyed, sītā: Sita, rāmasānnidhyē: in the presence of Rama, lakṣmaṇasyaca: and Lakshmana, sakāśē: in the presence of, kiṅnu: why did you, nahṛtā: not take away.

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

mahābalaṅmahātmānaṅdurdharṣamamarairapi .

nabudhyasēraghuśrēṣṭhaṅyastēprāṇānhariṣyati ।।6.20.29।।

yaḥ he who, tē: your, prāṇān life, hariṣyati: will take away, mahābalam extraordinary might, mahātmānam a benevolent one, amarairapi: like Indra, durdharṣam difficult to overcome, raghuśrēṣṭham foremost of Raghus, nabudhyasē: 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."

tatō.bravīdvālisutastvaṅgadōharisattamaḥ .

nāyaṅdūtōmahārājacārikaḥpratibhātimē ।।6.20.30।।

tataḥ that, vālisutaḥ Vali's son, harisattamaḥ noble one of the Vanaras, aṅgadaḥ Angada, abravīt said, mahārāja: king, ayam this, dūtaḥ messenger, na: not, cārikaḥ spy, mē: to me, pratibhāti: 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."

tulitaṅhibalaṅsarvamanēnātraivatiṣṭhatā .

gṛhyatāṅmāgamallaṅkāmētaddimamarōcatē ।।6.20.31।।

tiṣṭhatā: standing, anēna: surely, sarvam entire, balam strength of the army, tulitam hi: has been assessed, gṛhyatām take him captive, laṅkām to Lanka, māgamat not return, ētat thus, mama: I, rōcatē: 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."

tatōrājñāsamādiṣṭāssamutpatyavalīmukhāḥ .

jagṛhuścababandhuścavilapantamanāthavat ।।6.20.32।।

taḥ then, rājñā: by the king, samādiṣṭāḥ having been commanded, valīmukhāḥ the bird Suka, samutpatya: getting up, anāthavat like a forlorn one, vilapantam wailing, jagṛhuśca: caught him, babandhuśca: and bound.

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

śukastuvānaraiścaṇḍaistatrataissamprapīḍitaḥ .

vyācukrōśamahātmānaṅrāmaṅdaśarathātmajam ।।6.20.33।।

tatra: thereafter, caṇḍaiḥ severely, taiḥvānaraiḥ by the Vanaras, samprapīḍitaḥ tormented, śukastu: at Suka, mahātmānam benevolent, daśarathātmajam Dasaratha's son, rāmam Rama, vyācukrōśa: went towards.

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

lupyētēmēbalātpakṣaubhidyētēmētathā.kṣiṇī ।।6.20.34।।

yāṅcarātriṅmariṣyāmijāyērātriṅcayāmaham .

ētasminnantarēkālēyanmayāhyaśubhaṅkṛtam ।।6.20.35।।

sarvaṅtvamupapadyēdhājahyāṅcēdyadijīvitam .

mē: my pakṣau: wings, balāt forcibly, lupyētē: are cut off, tathā: likewise, mē: my akṣiṇī: eyes, bhidyētē: are injured, aham I, yāṅca: from that, rātrim night, jāyē: I was born, yaṅcarātrim till the night, mariṣyāmi: I am dead, ētasmin on account of this, antarēkālē: in the intervening time, mayā: by me, yat that which, aśubham inauspicious, kṛtam action, tat that, sarvam all sins, jīvitam life, jahyāṅ: leaving my original form, cēdyadi: even, upapadyēthāḥ 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)."

nāghātayattadārāmaśśrutvātatparidēvanam .

vānarānabravīdrāmōmucyatāṅdūtaāgataḥ ।।6.20.36।।

tadā: then, rāmaḥ Rama, tat that, paridēvanam lamentation, śrutvā: having heard, nāghātayat do not kill, dūtaḥ envoy, āgataḥ come, mucyatām set free, vānarān to Vanaras, abravīt spoke.

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