Sloka & Translation

[Ravana rebukes the spies, Suka and Saarana from the Rakshasa army for praising Vanara army and sends Saardula, another spy who also reports about the strength of Vanara army.]

śukēnatusamākhyātāndṛṣṭvāsahariyūthapān .

samīpasthaṅcarāmasyabhrātaraṅsvaṅvibhīṣaṇam ।।6.29.1।।

lakṣmaṇaṅcamahāvīryaṅbhujaṅrāmasyadakṣiṇaṅ .

sarvavānararājaṅcasugrīvaṅbhīmavikramam ।।6.29.2।।

aṅgadaṅcāpibalinaṅvajrahastātmajātmajam .

hanūmantaṅcavikrāntaṅjāmbavantaṅcadurjayam ।।6.29.3।।

suṣēṇaṅkumudaṅnīlaṅnalaṅcaplavagarṣabham .

gajaṅgavākṣaṅśarabhaṅmaindaṅcadvividaṅtathā ।।6.29.4।।

kiñcidāvignahṛdayōjātakrōdhaścarāvaṇaḥ .

bhartsayāmāsatauvīraukathāntēśukasāraṇau ।।6.29.5।।


saḥrāvaṇa that Ravana, śukēna by Suka, samākhyātān spoken that way, hariyūthapān about the army of monkeys, rāmasya Rama's, dakṣiṇaṅbhujam right shoulder, mahāvīryam extraordinary valour, lakṣmaṇaṅca at Lakshmana, rāmasya Rama's, samīpastham close by, bhrātaram the brother, vibhīṣaṇam Vibheeshana, sarvavānararājam King of all Vanaras, bhīmavikramam one of fierce valour, sugrīvaṅca Sugriva, balinam the strong, vajrahastātmajātmajam the son of Vali (son of Indra who wields a thunderbolt ), aṅgadaṅcāpi and also Angada, vikrāntam the valiant, hanūmantam Hanuman, durjayam difficult to conquer, jāmbavantam Jambavan, suṣēṇam Sushena, kumudam Kumuda, nīlam Nila, plavagarṣabham bull among leaping ones, nalaṅca that Nala, gajam Gaja, gavākṣam at Gavaksha, śarabham Sarabha, maindam Mainda, tathā likewise, dvividam Dwiv i da, dṛṣṭavā seeing, kiñcit a little, āvignahṛdaya broken hearted, jātakrōdhaśca with fury, kathāṅtē aforesaid, vīrau heroes, tau both, śukasāraṇau Suka and Saarana, bhartsayāmāsa started to rebuke.

There after Ravana having heard the words spoken by Suka about the army of Vanara heroes, seeing Lakshmana of extraordinary valour, the right shoulder of Rama standing close by Rama; his own brother Vibheeshana close by ; the king of Vanaras, Sugriva of fierce valour; and Angada the son of Vali (the son of Indra who wields thunderbolt) ; and valiant Hanuman; Jambavan who is difficult to conquer; Sushena, Nila, Kumuda, bull among the leaping animals Nala; likewise Gaja, Gavaksha, Sarabha, Mainda and Dwivida got a little broken hearted and mixed with fury started to rebuke both the heroes Suka and Saarana.
adhōmukhautaupraṇatāvabravīcchukasāraṇau .

rōṣagadgadayāvācāsaṅrabdhaṅparuṣaṅvacaḥ ।।6.29.6।।


adhōmukhau with heads bent down, praṇatau in supplication, tau both, śukasāṇau Suka and Saarana, rōṣagadgadayā throat choked with anger, vācā spoke, saṅrabda indignantly, tathā so also, parūṣam harshly, abravīt spoke.

(That Ravana) with his throat choked with anger spoke indignantly and harshly to both Suka and Saarana who stood with their heads bent down in supplication.
natāvatsadṛśaṅnāmasacivairupajīvibhiḥ .

vipriyaṅnṛpatērvaktuṅnigrahēpragrahēprabhōḥ ।।6.29.7।।


upajīvibhi those who are dependant, sacivai ministers, vigrahē to keep in check, pragrahē holding forth, prabhō to a capable, nṛpatē ruler, nipriyam that which is unpleasant, vaktum to speak, sadṛśam in this way, natāvat nām not proper.

"It is not proper for those ministers dependent on a capable ruler who has the power to check and hold forth, to speak that which is unpleasant."
ripūṇāṅpratikūlānāṅyuddhārthamabhivartatām .

ubhābhyāṅsadṛśaṅnāmavaktumaprastavēstavam ।।6.29.8।।


aprastavē inappropriate, ubhābhyām both of you, pratikūlānām antagonistic, yuddhārtham before war, abhivartatām speaking this way, ripūṇām about enemies, stavam to praise, vaktum your talking, sadṛśaṅnāma for you this way.

"Is it appropriate for both of you to praise the enemy this way before war?"
ācāryāguravōvṛddhāvṛthāvāṅparyupāsitāḥ .

sāraṅyadrājaśāstrāṇāmanujīvyaṅnagṛhyatē ।।6.29.9।।


yat that which is, rājaśāstrāṇām in political sastras, anujīvyam living upon, sāram essence, nagṛhyatē not grasped, vām both of you, ācārya teachers, gurava sages, vṛddhā parents, vṛthā waste, paryupāsitā waiting upon.

"You have not grasped that which is the essence of political wisdom in the sastras in spite of waiting upon elders, teachers and parents which was in vain."
gṛhītōvānavijñātōbhārō.jñānasyavāhyatē .

īdṛśai: sacivairyuktōmūrkhairdiṣṭyadharāmyaham ।।6.29.10।।


gṛhīta even if you have grasped, navijñātōvā not known the meaning, ajñānasya out of ignorance, bhāra intensity, vāhyatē bearing, mūrkhai foolish ones, īdṛśai like these, sacivai ministers, yukta not fit, aham I, diṣṭyā out of good luck, dharāmi ruling this sovereignty.

"Even if you have grasped you have not understood the meaning or out of intensity of your ignorance. Or else I am bearing foolish ones like you who are not fit to be ministers. Out of good luck I am ruling this sovereignty."
kiṅnumṛtyōrbhayaṅnāstivaktuṅmāṅparuṣaṅvacaḥ .

yasyamēśāsatōjihvāprayacchatiśubhāśubham ।।6.29.11।।


śāsata by order, yasyamē by that alone, jihvā by tongue, śubhāśubham auspicious and inauspicious, prayacchati articulating, mām to me, paruṣam harsh, vaca words, vaktum to speak, mṛtyō death, bhayam fear, nāstikiṅnu do you not have.

"Did you not have fear of death when you spoke such harsh words to me, who can by mere order make good or evil to you?"
apyēvadahanaṅspṛṣṭavāvanētiṣṭhantipādapāḥ .

rājadōṣaparāmṛṣṭāstiṣṭhantēnāparādhinaḥ ।।6.29.12।।


pādapā trees, dahanam fire, spṛṣṭavā touching, āpyēva even after, vanē in forest, tiṣṭhanti remains unscathed, rājadōṣaparāmṛṣṭā treated harshly on account of punishment of the king, aparādhina those who are punishable, natiṣṭhantē not remain unpunished.

"Trees may remain unscathed even on touching forest fire, but those who are punishable do not remain unpunished on account of the king and are treated harshly."
hanyāmahaṅtvimaupāpauśatrupakṣapraśaṅsakau .

yadipūrvōpakāraistunakrōdhōmṛdutāṅvrajēt ।।6.29.13।।


aham I, hanyām would have slayed, tvamimaupāpau these two sinners, śatrupakṣapraśaṅsakau who praise the enemy side, yadi if, mē my, krōdha anger, na not, mṛdutām vrajēt softened, pūrvōpakārai due to earlier service.

"I would have slayed these two sinners who praise the enemy side, if my anger had not softened and remembered their earlier services."
apadhvaṅsatagacchadhvaṅsannikarṣāditōmama .

nahivāṅhantumicchāmismarāmyupakṛtānivām ।।6.29.14।।

hatāvēvakṛtaghnautaumayisnēhaparāṅmukhau .


apadhvaṅsata disappear from here, gacchadhvam going from here, mama my, ita this sannikarṣāt from neighbourhood,, vām you, upakṛtāni services affected by you, smarāmi remember, hantum to kill, naicchāmi do not wish, mayi to me, snēhaparāṅmukhau devoid of love, kṛtaghnau ungrateful, tau both, hatāvēva stand killed.

"You get away from here, disappear from here. On the contrary since I remember your earlier actions performed by you, I do not wish to kill you. Indeed, both of you are devoid of love and are ungrateful. You stand killed (already)."
ēvamuktautusavrīḷautāvubhauśukasāraṇau .

rāvaṇaṅjayaśabdēnapratinandyābhinissṛtau ।।6.29.15।।


ēvam that way, uktau having spoken, tauśukasāraṇau both Suka and Saarana, savrīḷau feeling shy, rāvaṇam Ravana's, jayaśabdēnapratinandya both praised saying ' let you be victorious', nissṛtau withdrew from there.

Ravana, having spoken that way, both Suka and Saarana felt shy and withdrew from speaking words of praise of Ravana saying, 'Let you be victorious'.
abravītsadaśagrīva: samīpasthaṅmahōdaram .

upastāpayamēśīghraṅcārānnītiviśāradān ।।6.29.16।।


abravīt said, sa he, daśagrīva ten-headed one (Ravana), samīpastham who was standing nearby, mahōdaram Mahodara, upasthāpaya bring, mē to me, nītiviśārada expert in policy, śīghram swiftly cārān spies.

Ravana, the ten-headed one, then said to Mahodara who was standing nearby swiftly bring spies who are experts in policy to me.
mahōdarastathōktastuśīghramājñāpayaccarān ।।6.29.17।।

tataścārāssaṅtvaritāḥprāptāḥpārthivaśāsanāt .

upasthitāḥprāñjalayōvardhayitvājayaśiṣāḥ ।।6.29.18।।


tathā so, ukta having said, mahōdara Mahodara, śīghram swiftly, carān spies, ājñāpayat ordered, tata then, saṅtvaritā quickly, pārthivaśānāt as per the order of the King,, prāptā approached, cārā spies, prāñjalaya greeted with folded hand s, jayaśiṣā saying 'be victorious', vardhayitvā promoting, upasthitā stood.

(Ravana) Having said so, Mahodara ordered the spies to approach the king quickly. On reaching they greeted the king with folded hand s promoting h i m to' be victorious' and stood.
tānabravīttatōvākyaṅrāvaṇōrākṣasādhipaḥ .

cārānpratyāyitān śūrānbhaktānvigatasādhvasān ।।6.29.19।।


tata there upon, rakṣasādhipa Lord of Rakshasas, rāvaṇa Ravana, prātyayitān those who are dependable, śūrān warriors, bhaktān devotees, vigatasādhvasān who are devoid of fear of enemies, tān carān those spies, vākyam these words, abravīt spoke.

There upon the Lord of Rakshasas, spoke these words to those spies who are dependable ones, warriors devoid of fear of enemies.
itōgacchatarāmasyavyavasāyaṅparīkṣatha .

mantriṣvabhyantarāyē.syaprītyātēnasamāgatāḥ ।।6.29.20।।


rāmasya Rama's, vyavasāyam perception, anya of others, yē those, mantriṣu ministers, abhyantarā close to him, prītyā in affection, tēna to him, samāgatā who have reached there, parīkṣatha observing, ita from here, gacchata go.

"From here you go and reach there; you may observe perceptions of Rama and of others close to him, his ministers and those who have reached there in affection to him."
kathaṅsvapitijāgartikimanyaccakariṣyati .

vijñāyanipuṇaṅsarvamāgantavyamaśēṣataḥ ।।6.29.21।।


katham how, svapiti he goes to sleep, jāgarti wakes up, anya other, kim what, kariṣyati he does, sarvam everything, aśēṣata thoroughly, nipuṇam carefully, vijñāya knowing, āgantavyam you may come.

"You may see how he goes to sleep, how he wakes up etc., what he does, everything. You may come after knowing everything."
cārēṇaviditaśśatruḥpaṇḍitairvasudhādhipaiḥ .

yuddhēsvalpēnayatnēnasamāsādyanirasyatē ।।6.29.22।।


paṇḍitai wise, vasudhādhipai kings of the land, cārēṇa from the spies, vidita knowing, śatru enemies, yuddhē in war, samāsādya having known, svalpēna little, yatnēna effort, nirasyatē destroy.

"Wise kings of the land, having known about enemies from the spies destroy enemies in war with little effort."
cārāstutētathētyuktvāprahṛṣṭārākṣasēśvaram .

śārdūlamagrataḥkṛtvātataścakruḥpradakṣiṇam ।।6.29.23।।


tē those, cārāstu spies then, prahṛṣṭā gladly, tathēti saying 'be it so', uktvā having uttered, śārdūlam Saardula, agrata in front, kṛtvā keeping, rākṣasēśvaram Rakshasa king, pradakṣiṇam going round in reverence (the king), cakru departed.

The spies then gladly uttered the words 'be it so', went round the king in reverence and departed with Saardula leading in front.
tatastētaṅmahātmānaṅcārārākṣasasattamam .

kṛtvāpradakṣiṇaṅjagmuryatrarāmassalakṣmaṇaḥ ।।6.29.24।।


tata then, cārā the spies, mahātmānam great self, tam him, rākṣasasattamam foremost of Rakshasas, pradakṣiṇaṅ circumambulation, kṛtvā having done, salakṣmaṇaḥrāma that Lakshmana and Rama, yatra there, jagmu went.

Then the spies circumambulated the great Rakshasa king and having done so went to the place where Rama and Lakshmana were stationed.
tēsuvēlasyaśailasyasamīpērāmalakṣmaṇau .

pracchannādadṛśurgatvāsasugrīvavibhīṣaṇau ।।6.29.25।।


tē hey, gatvā reaching, pracchannā in disguise, suvēlasyaśailasya Suvela mountain, samīpē near, sasugrīvavibhīṣaṇau Sugriva and Vibheeshana, rāmalakṣmaṇau Rama and Lakshmana, dadṛśu saw.

Reaching the Suvela mountain in disguise, they saw Rama and Lakshmana along with Sugriva and Vibheeshana.
prēkṣamāṇāścamūṅtāṅtubabhūvurbhayaviklabāḥ .

tētudharmātmanādṛṣṭārākṣasēndrēṇarākṣasā ।।6.29.26।।


tērākṣasā those Rakshasas, tāṅcamūm that army, prēkṣamāṇā started looking, bhayaviklabā bewildered with fear, babhūvu remained, dharmātmanā righteous one, rākṣasēndrēṇa Rakshasa king (Vibheeshana), dṛṣṭā on seeing.

Those Rakshasas were bewildered with fear on looking at the army. Righteous Vibheeshana recognized them on seeing them.
vibhīṣaṇēnatatrasthānigṛhītāyadṛcchayā .

śārdūlōgrāhitastvēkaḥpāpō.yamitirākṣasaḥ ।।6.29.27।।


yadṛcchayā by chance, tatrasthā , vibhīṣaṇēna by Vibheeshana, nigṛhītā seized, āyam them, rākṣasa the Rakshasas, pāpā evil one, itiēka thus alone, śārdūlaḥtu you Saardula, grāhita caught hold.

By chance Vibheeshana seized Saardula, the evil Rakshasa who was moving in that army.
mōcitassō.pirāmēṇavadhyamānaḥplavaṅgamaiḥ .

anṛśaṅsyēnarāmēṇamōcitārākṣasāḥparē ।।6.29.28।।


plavaṅgamai monkeys, vadhyamāna to kill, sō.pi he too, rāmēṇa by Rama, mōcita relieved, parē other, rākṣasā Rakshasas, anṛśaṅsyēna compassionate, rāmēṇa by Rama, mōcitā got released.

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

punarlaṅkāmanuprāptāśvasantōnaṣṭacētasaḥ ।।6.29.29।।


vikrāntai by the valorous ones, laghuvikramai swift ones, vānarai Vanaras, arditā harassed, tē those, tu those Rakshasas, śvasanta gasping, puna again, laṅkām to Lanka, naṣṭacētasa lost their senses, anuprāptā returned.

Harassed by the valorous and swift Vanaras, those Rakshasas lost their senses and returned to Lanka gasping and panting.
tatōdaśagrīvamupasthitāstēcārābahirnityacarāniśācarāḥ .

girēssuvēlasyasamīpavāsinaṅnyavēdayanbhīmabalaṅmahābalāḥ ।।6.29.30।।


tata: then, tē those, cārā the spies, bahir outside, nityacarā who are ever wandering, niśācarā night rangers, upasthitā coming near, daśagrīvam the ten headed Ravana, nyavēdayan narrated, mahābalā the great force (Vanara army), bhīmabalam of fierce strength, girē the mountain suvēlasya Suvela's, samīpavāsinam residing nearby.

Then those night ranger spies, who are ever wandering outside, coming near, the ten headed Ravana, narrated about the great force (Vanara army), of fierce strength, residing near the mountain Suvela.
।। ityārṣēvālmīkīyēśrīmadrāmāyaṇēādikāvyēyuddhakāṇḍēēkōnatriṅśassargaḥ ।।
This is the end of the twenty ninth sarga of Yuddha Kanda of the first epic the holy Ramayana composed by sage Valmiki.