Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 17, Shloka 125

विभीषणागमनम्

Vibhīṣaṇa’s Arrival and the Debate on Refuge

Devanagari script

इत्युक्त्वापरुषंवाक्यंरावणंरावणानुजः ।आजगाममुहूर्तेनयत्ररामस्सलक्ष्मणः ।।6.17.1।।

Transliteration

ity uktvā paruṣaṃ vākyaṃ rāvaṇaṃ rāvaṇānujaḥ | ājagāma muhūrtena yatra rāmaḥ sa-lakṣmaṇaḥ ||6.17.1||

Translation

Having thus spoken harsh words to Rāvaṇa, his younger brother Vibhīṣaṇa quickly went to the place where Rāma stood together with Lakṣmaṇa.

Word by Word

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; वाक्य-समाप्ति/उद्धरण-सूचक (quotative particle: "thus")

• उक्त्वा: having said
• उक्त्वा: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु) + क्त्वा (क्त्वान्त-कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive); पूर्वक्रिया (having said)

• परुषम्: harsh
• परुषम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifier)

• वाक्यम्: speech/words
• वाक्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• रावणम्: Ravana (to Ravana)
• रावणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रावण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; सम्बोधन-लक्ष्य (object addressed)

• रावणानुजः: Ravana's younger brother (Vibhishana)
• रावणानुजः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रावण (प्रातिपदिक) + अनुज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative: "Ravana's younger brother"); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन

• आजगाम: came/reached
• आजगाम: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु) उपसर्ग: आ-
• Form: लिट्-लकार (perfect; narrative past); प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• मुहूर्तेन: in a short while
• मुहूर्तेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुहूर्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण/अधिकरण-निमित्त), एकवचन; काल-परिमाण (instrumental of time: "within a short while")

• यत्र: where
• यत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक-सम्बन्ध (relative adverb of place: "where")

• रामः: Rama
• रामः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सलक्ष्मणः: with Lakshmana
• सलक्ष्मणः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (अव्यय-उपपद) + लक्ष्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास (with-phrase: "with Lakshmana"); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; रामस्य विशेषणम् (qualifying Rama)

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 over loyalty to wrongdoing: Vibhīṣaṇa breaks from Rāvaṇa after condemning his conduct and moves toward the righteous side represented by Rāma.

What is the narrative situation?

After rebuking Rāvaṇa, Vibhīṣaṇa departs Laṅkā’s court and goes swiftly to Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa, setting up his request for refuge/alliance.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Moral courage and truthfulness (satya): Vibhīṣaṇa dares to speak harsh truth to power and then acts decisively in alignment with righteousness.