Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 17, Shloka 18

विभीषणागमनम्

Vibhīṣaṇa’s Arrival and the Debate on Refuge

Devanagari script

एतत्तुवचनंश्रुत्वासुग्रीवोलघुविक्रमः ।लक्ष्मणस्याग्रतोरामंसम्रब्धमिदमब्रवीत् ।।6.17.18।।

Transliteration

etat tu vacanaṃ śrutvā sugrīvo laghu-vikramaḥ | lakṣmaṇasyāgrato rāmaṃ samrabdham idam abravīt ||

Translation

Hearing these words, Sugrīva—swift in valor—spoke thus to Rāma in Lakṣmaṇa’s presence, with urgent intensity.

Word by Word

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; ‘this’

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle), विरोध/विशेषार्थक (but/indeed)

• वचनम्: speech/words
• वचनम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund), ‘having heard’

• सुग्रीवः: Sugriva
• सुग्रीवः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुग्रीव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• लघुविक्रमः: swift in valor
• लघुविक्रमः: Karta-anubandha (कर्तृसम्बन्धे विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लघु-विक्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः: लघुः (शीघ्रः) विक्रमः यस्य (quick in prowess)

• लक्ष्मणस्य: of Lakshmana
• लक्ष्मणस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्ष्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• अग्रतः: in front of
• अग्रतः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative sense)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अग्रतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb/postposition), स्थानवाचक (in front of/in presence of)

• रामम्: Rama
• रामम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सम्रब्धम्: angered/agitated
• सम्रब्धम्: Karma-anubandha (कर्मसम्बन्धे विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-रभ् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त-भूतकर्मणि (past passive participle/कर्मणि क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; रामम् इति कर्मपदस्य विशेषणम्

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदं (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘this’ (object of speaking)

• अब्रवीत्: said/spoke
• अब्रवीत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (imperfect/past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Context

Highly valiant Sugriva having heard all this (from Vibheeshana) eagerly spoke these words to Rama in the presence of Lakshmana.

Characters & Entities

• Sugrīva
• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa

FAQs

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

Dharma in governance includes vigilance and responsible counsel: leaders must respond carefully when an enemy-side figure requests asylum, balancing compassion with security.

What is the narrative situation?

After Vibhīṣaṇa’s message, Sugrīva reacts and prepares to advise Rāma, with Lakṣmaṇa present.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sugrīva’s alertness and protective responsibility toward Rāma’s cause.