Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 17, Shloka 1

विभीषणागमनम्

Vibhīṣaṇa’s Arrival and the Debate on Refuge

Devanagari script

इत्युक्त्वापरुषंवाक्यंरावणंरावणानुजः ।आजगाममुहूर्तेनयत्ररामस्सलक्ष्मणः ।।6.17.1।।

Transliteration

ity uktvā paruṣaṁ vākyaṁ rāvaṇaṁ rāvaṇānujaḥ | ājagāma muhūrtena yatra rāmaḥ salakṣmaṇaḥ ||

Translation

Having thus spoken harsh words to Rāvaṇa, his younger brother arrived in a short while at the place where Rāma stood with Lakṣmaṇa.

Word by Word

• tam: him
• tam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana

• meru-śikhara-ākāram: having the shape of Meru's peak
• meru-śikhara-ākāram: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: meru (प्रातिपदिक) + śikhara (प्रातिपदिक) + ākāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: 'having the form of Meru's peak'

• dīptām: shining
• dīptām: Upamāna-dharma (उपमान-धर्म/quality in simile)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dīpta (कृदन्त, √dīp)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana; used adverbially with iva in simile (agreeing with implied 'prabhā/vidyut')

• iva: like
• iva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/simile marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: upamā-avyaya (simile marker)

• śata-hradām: (like) a hundred lightnings
• śata-hradām: Upamāna (उपमान/standard of comparison)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śata (प्रातिपदिक) + hradā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana; dvigu: 'hundred-lightnings' (epithet of lightning/Indra's bolt) used as upamāna

• gagana-stham: situated in the sky
• gagana-stham: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gagana (प्रातिपदिक) + stha (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक from √sthā)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: 'standing in the sky'

• mahī-sthāḥ: standing on the ground
• mahī-sthāḥ: Kartā (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahī (प्रातिपदिक) + stha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st), Bahuvacana; qualifies sarva-vānarāḥ

• te: they
• te: Kartā (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st), Bahuvacana

• dadṛśuḥ: saw
• dadṛśuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dṛś (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ (Perfect), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Bahuvacana; parasmaipada

• sarva-vānarāḥ: all the vanaras
• sarva-vānarāḥ: Kartā (कर्ता/Subject, apposition to te)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + vānara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st), Bahuvacana; karmadhāraya: 'all (the) monkeys'

Context

Vibheeshana, having addressed Ravana in harsh language, reached Rama and Lakshmana in a short while.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Vibhīṣaṇa
• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa

FAQs

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

Choosing dharma-aligned refuge: when righteous counsel is rejected by an unjust ruler, one may leave adharma and seek the company of the virtuous.

What is the narrative situation?

Vibhīṣaṇa departs from Rāvaṇa after a sharp exchange and quickly reaches Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa across the conflict lines.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Discernment and allegiance to truth: Vibhīṣaṇa acts on conviction rather than family loyalty to wrongdoing.