Shloka 33

विभीषणागमनम्

Vibhīṣaṇa’s Arrival and the Debate on Refuge

Devanagari script

सुहृदामर्थकृच्छेषुयुक्तंबुद्धिमतासदा ।समर्थेनोपनिर्देष्टुंशाश्वतींभूतिमिच्छता ।।6.17.33।।

Transliteration

suhṛdām arthakṛcchreṣu yuktaṁ buddhimatā sadā |

samarthenopanirdeṣṭuṁ śāśvatīṁ bhūtim icchatā ||6.17.33||

Translation

«In Zeiten schwerer Entscheidungen ziemt es dem Weisen, der dauerhaftes Wohlergehen begehrt, stets, sich von dem Rat eines tüchtigen Freundes leiten zu lassen.»

Word by Word

• सुहृदाम्: of friends
• सुहृदाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुहृद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• अर्थकृच्छ्रेषु: in difficult situations
• अर्थकृच्छ्रेषु: अधिकरण (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक) + कृच्छ्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी-तत्पुरुष/कर्मधारयार्थ (difficulties regarding affairs), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचन

• युक्तम्: proper
• युक्तम्: क्रिया (Predicative/भाव)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युज् (धातु) > युक्त (कृदन्त, क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (Past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; भावे प्रयोग (it is proper)

• बुद्धिमता: by a wise (person)
• बुद्धिमता: कर्ता (Agent in passive/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुद्धिमत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

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

• समर्थेन: by a capable (one)
• समर्थेन: कर्ता (Agent in passive/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; बुद्धिमता इत्यस्य विशेषणभावः

• उपनिर्देष्टुम्: to advise
• उपनिर्देष्टुम्: प्रयोजन (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-नि-दिश् (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (Infinitive), क्रियार्थ (to advise/point out)

• शाश्वतीम्: lasting
• शाश्वतीम्: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शाश्वती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण भूतिम्

• भूतिम्: welfare, prosperity
• भूतिम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• इच्छता: wishing (for)
• इच्छता: कर्ता (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इष् (धातु) > इच्छत् (कृदन्त, शतृ-प्रत्यय)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त (Present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; बुद्धिमता/समर्थेन इत्यस्य विशेषण

Context

"It is always desirable to seek everlasting advice for one's welfare from capable and wise ones by the near and dear ones. It is proper to seek advice on complex matters by one who is in a difficult situation."

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• suhṛt (friends/counsellors)

FAQs

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

A dharmic ruler seeks competent counsel in crisis to reach truth-aligned decisions that secure long-term welfare rather than short-term reactions.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma frames the decision about Vibhīṣaṇa as a complex policy-and-dharma question, inviting reasoned guidance from trusted allies.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Humility joined with wisdom: even the capable seek advice for the sake of righteous outcomes.