Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 17, Shloka 74

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 ||

Translation

After speaking those harsh words to Rāvaṇa, his younger brother (Vibhīṣaṇa) quickly went to the place where Rāma stood with Lakṣmaṇa.

Word by Word

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः; quotative marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; इत्यर्थे निपातः (particle/quotative: "thus")

• उक्त्वा: having said
• उक्त्वा: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण; prior action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वच् (धातु) + क्त्वा (क्त्वान्त/अव्ययभाव)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive); पूर्वकालिकक्रिया (having done earlier)

• परुषम्: harsh
• परुषम्: Visheshana (विशेषण; qualifier of vākyaṃ)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति; एकवचन (Neuter, Accusative, Singular); विशेषणम्

• वाक्यम्: speech/words
• वाक्यम्: Karma (कर्म; object of uktvā)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति; एकवचन (Neuter, Accusative, Singular)

• रावणम्: to Ravana
• रावणम्: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान; addressee/target of speech)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रावण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति; एकवचन (Masculine, Accusative, Singular)

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

• आजगाम: came/reached
• आजगाम: Kriya (क्रिया; main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु) उपसर्ग: आ-
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect; narrative past); प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचन (3rd person singular); परस्मैपद

• मुहूर्तेन: in a short while
• मुहूर्तेन: Adhikarana (अधिकरण; temporal circumstance)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुहूर्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया-विभक्ति; एकवचन (Masculine, Instrumental, Singular); कालवाचक-तृतीया (instrumental of time: "within/in")

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

• रामः: Rama
• रामः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण; located entity in yatra-clause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति; एकवचन (Masculine, Nominative, Singular)

• सलक्ष्मणः: with Lakshmana
• सलक्ष्मणः: Visheshana (विशेषण; qualifier of rāmaḥ)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (अव्यय/उपपद) + लक्ष्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव समास (sa- = "with" + noun); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति; एकवचन (Masculine, Nominative, Singular); विशेषणम् (qualifies rāmaḥ)

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?

Dharma here is choosing righteous alignment over family loyalty when adharma prevails—Vibhīṣaṇa moves away from Rāvaṇa’s unrighteous path and toward Rāma, who represents dharma and satya.

What is the narrative situation?

After confronting Rāvaṇa with stern/harsh words, Vibhīṣaṇa departs and quickly goes to Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa, marking his decisive shift of allegiance.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Moral courage and commitment to truth: Vibhīṣaṇa acts decisively to stand with righteousness even at the cost of breaking with his own brother.