Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 17, Shloka 30

विभीषणागमनम्

Vibhīṣaṇa’s Arrival and the Debate on Refuge

Devanagari script

एवमुक्त्वातुतंरामंसम्रब्धोवाहिनीपतिः ।वाक्यज्ञोवाक्यकुशलंततोमौनमुपागमत् ।।6.17.30।।

Transliteration

evam uktvā tu taṁ rāmaṁ samrabdho vāhinīpatiḥ |

vākyajño vākyakuśalaṁ tato maunam upāgamat ||6.17.30||

Translation

Having spoken thus to Rāma, the army-chief—skilled in speech and knowing what is fitting to say—then fell silent.

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb)

• उक्त्वा: having spoken
• उक्त्वा: पूर्वकाल (Prior action/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु) > उक्त्वा
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त (Absolutive/Gerund), पूर्वक्रिया (having said)

• तु: but/then
• तु: सम्बन्ध (Discourse particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), विरोध/अन्वय (but/and then)

• तम्: him
• तम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

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

• सम्रब्धः: agitated, enraged
• सम्रब्धः: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-रभ् (धातु) > सम्रब्ध (कृदन्त, क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि/कर्तरि कृदन्त (Past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; वाहिनीपतिः इति विशेष्यस्य

• वाहिनीपतिः: commander of the army
• वाहिनीपतिः: कर्ता (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाहिनी (प्रातिपदिक) + पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (Genitive tatpurusha: 'army-lord'), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• वाक्यज्ञः: skilled in speech
• वाक्यज्ञः: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वाक्य (प्रातिपदिक) + ज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उपपद-तत्पुरुष (one who knows speech), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; वाहिनीपतिः इति विशेष्यस्य

• वाक्यकुशलम्: adept in speaking
• वाक्यकुशलम्: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वाक्य (प्रातिपदिक) + कुशल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (skilled in speech), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; (कर्मरूपेण) मौनम्/उपागमत् इत्यस्य प्रसङ्गे 'speech-skilled (person)'—पाठभेदे वाक्यकुशलः इति सम्भवः

• ततः: then
• ततः: कालाधिकरण (Time/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• मौनम्: silence
• मौनम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मौन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• उपागमत्: approached/entered (silence)
• उपागमत्: क्रिया (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-आ-गम् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

Context

The chief of the army (Sugriva) who knew how to speak appropriately having submitted in that manner to Rama who was adept in expression remained silent.

Characters & Entities

• Sugrīva
• Rāma

FAQs

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

Dharma in counsel includes restraint: after offering one’s view, one must allow the rightful decision-maker to deliberate without coercion.

What is the narrative situation?

Sugrīva, having urged a harsh course against Vibhīṣaṇa, stops speaking and waits for Rāma’s response.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Discipline in speech—knowing when to speak and when to be silent.