Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 17, Shloka 27

विभीषणागमनम्

Vibhīṣaṇa’s Arrival and the Debate on Refuge

Devanagari script

राक्षसोजिह्मयाबुद्ध्यासंदिष्टोऽयमुपागतः ।प्रहर्तुंमाययाच्छन्नोविश्वस्तेत्वयिराघव ।।6.17.27।।

Transliteration

rākṣaso jihmayā buddhyā saṃdiṣṭo 'yam upāgataḥ | prahartuṃ māyayā channo viśvaste tvayi rāghava || 6.17.27 ||

Translation

O Rāghava, this rākṣasa has come on a mission with crooked intent; veiled by deception, he seeks your trust in order to strike.

Word by Word

• राक्षसः: the rakshasa
• राक्षसः: कर्ता (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता), एकवचन (Singular)

• जिह्मया: with crooked
• जिह्मया: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जिह्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (adjective) बुद्ध्या इति विशेष्यस्य

• बुद्ध्या: by (his) intent/mind
• बुद्ध्या: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), एकवचन (Singular)

• संदिष्टः: having been instructed/sent
• संदिष्टः: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-दिश् (धातु) > संदिष्ट (कृदन्त, क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (Past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); राक्षसः इति विशेष्यस्य

• अयम्: this (one)
• अयम्: कर्ता (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (Pronoun), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता), एकवचन (Singular)

• उपागतः: has come
• उपागतः: क्रिया (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-आ-गम् (धातु) > उपागत (कृदन्त, क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि/कर्तरि कृदन्त (Past participle used predicatively), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्रियार्थे (finite sense: 'has come')

• प्रहर्तुम्: to strike
• प्रहर्तुम्: प्रयोजन (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-हृ (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (Infinitive), क्रियार्थ (purpose)

• मायया: by deception/illusion
• मायया: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), एकवचन (Singular)

• छन्नः: concealed
• छन्नः: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: छद् (धातु) > छन्न (कृदन्त, क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (Past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; अयम्/राक्षसः इति विशेष्यस्य

• विश्वस्ते: trusting (you), confident
• विश्वस्ते: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि-श्वस् (धातु) > विश्वस्त (कृदन्त, क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (Past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; 'trusting/confident' (having trusted)

• त्वयि: in you / towards you
• त्वयि: अधिकरण (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (Pronoun), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन (Singular)

• राघव: O Raghava
• राघव: सम्बोधन (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राघव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

Context

"O Raghava! You may know that this Rakshasa is being sent here by deceit ever intending to strike you under the cover of creating confidence."

Characters & Entities

• Rāma (Rāghava)
• Sugrīva
• Vibhīṣaṇa (implied)
• Rākṣasas

FAQs

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

Satya must be safeguarded against māyā (deception): dharma requires testing claims through evidence and consistent behavior, especially in war.

What is the narrative situation?

A warning is voiced that Vibhīṣaṇa’s approach could be a tactical deception to assassinate Rāma.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Alertness and discernment in receiving outsiders—even when they seek refuge or alliance.