Shloka 26

विभीषणागमनम्

Vibhīṣaṇa’s Arrival and the Debate on Refuge

Devanagari script

रावणेनप्रणिहितंतमवेहिविभीषणम् ।तस्याहंनिग्रहंमन्येक्षमंक्षमवतांवर ।।6.17.26।।

Transliteration

rāvaṇena praṇihitaṃ tam avehi vibhīṣaṇam | tasyāhaṃ nigrahaṃ manye kṣamaṃ kṣamavatāṃ vara || 6.17.26 ||

Translation

Wisse, Vibhīṣaṇa ist von Rāvaṇa gesandt; ich halte es für angemessen, ihn festzusetzen — o Bester der Nachsichtigen.

Word by Word

• रावणेन: by Ravana
• रावणेन: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रावण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), एकवचन (Singular)

• प्रणिहितम्: sent, dispatched
• प्रणिहितम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र-नि-धा (धातु) > प्रणिहित (कृदन्त, क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (Past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन (Singular)

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

• अवेहि: know, understand
• अवेहि: क्रिया (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव-इ (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• विभीषणम्: Vibhishana
• विभीषणम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विभीषण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन (Singular)

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (Pronoun), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine/Neuter), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन (Singular)

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: कर्ता (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (Pronoun), उत्तमपुरुषार्थ (1st person), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता), एकवचन (Singular)

• निग्रहम्: restraint, arrest
• निग्रहम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निग्रह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन (Singular)

• मन्ये: I think
• मन्ये: क्रिया (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मन् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन (Singular), आत्मनेपद

• क्षमम्: proper, fitting
• क्षमम्: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (adjective) निग्रहम् इति विशेष्यस्य

• क्षमवताम्: of the forbearing (people)
• क्षमवताम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षमवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन (Plural)

• वर: O best one
• वर: सम्बोधन (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सम्बोधन-प्रथमा (Vocative/Nominative address), एकवचन (Singular)

Context

"O Rama of most forbearing nature! Vibheeshana is sent by Ravana. You may consider that he is fit to be arrested, I think."

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Vibhīṣaṇa
• Rāma
• Sugrīva

FAQs

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

Protective justice: even while valuing compassion, a ruler must prevent possible harm; restraint can be ethical when it is precautionary and proportionate.

What is the narrative situation?

A senior ally recommends that Vibhīṣaṇa be treated as an enemy agent and temporarily detained.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Balance of kṣamā (forbearance) with responsibility for collective safety.