Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 17, Shloka 96

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 salakṣmaṇaḥ ||

Translation

Thus, having spoken harshly to Rāvaṇa, Vibhīṣaṇa quickly went to the place where Rāma was with Lakṣmaṇa.

Word by Word

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

• उक्त्वा: having said
• उक्त्वा: Kriya (क्रिया; prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having said)

• परुषम्: harsh
• परुषम्: Karma (कर्म; object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifies वाक्यम्)

• वाक्यम्: speech/words
• वाक्यम्: Karma (कर्म; object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; कर्मपदम् (object of उक्त्वा)

• रावणम्: to Ravana
• रावणम्: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान; recipient/target)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रावण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; प्रति/उद्देश्य (towards whom it was said)

• रावणानुजः: Ravana's younger brother (Vibhishana)
• रावणानुजः: Karta (कर्ता; subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रावण (प्रातिपदिक) + अनुज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive tatpuruṣa: "Rāvaṇa's younger brother"); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; कर्तृपदम्

• आजगाम: came/reached
• आजगाम: Kriya (क्रिया; main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/लिट्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person/प्रथमपुरुष), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्; उपसर्ग: आ- (ā-); अर्थ: "came/reached"

• मुहूर्तेन: in a short while
• मुहूर्तेन: Adhikarana (अधिकरण; time circumstance)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुहूर्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; करण/कालाधिकरण-भाव (instrumental of time: "within a short while")

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

• रामः: Rama
• रामः: Karta (कर्ता; subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; कर्तृ/आश्रय (subject within relative clause)

• सलक्ष्मणः: with Lakshmana
• सलक्ष्मणः: Sahakaraka (सहकारक; accompaniment)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (अव्यय-उपपद) + लक्ष्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास (with indeclinable prefix स- = "with"); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifies रामः)

Context

Vibheeshana, having addressed Ravana in harsh language, reached Rama and Lakshmana in a short while.

Characters & Entities

• Vibhīṣaṇa
• Rāvaṇa
• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa

FAQs

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

Righteousness can demand separation from unjust power; the verse highlights the ethical legitimacy of changing sides when one side stands against dharma.

What is the narrative situation?

Vibhīṣaṇa reaches Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa soon after confronting Rāvaṇa.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Conscientiousness and steadfastness toward dharma.