Shloka 36

विभीषणागमनम्

Vibhīṣaṇa’s Arrival and the Debate on Refuge

Devanagari script

त्वंहिसत्यव्रतश्शूरोधार्मिकोदृढविक्रमः ।परीक्ष्यकारीस्मृतिमान्निसृष्टात्मासुहृत्सुच ।।6.17.36।।

Transliteration

tvaṁ hi satyavrataḥ śūro dhārmiko dṛḍhavikramaḥ |

parīkṣyakārī smṛtimān nisṛṣṭātmā suhṛtsu ca ||6.17.36||

Translation

Denn du bist standhaft im Gelübde der Wahrheit, heldenhaft und rechtschaffen, fest in der Tapferkeit; du handelst erst nach Prüfung, bewahrst die alten Satzungen im Gedächtnis und bist deinen Freunden von ganzem Herzen zugetan.

Word by Word

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun), उत्तमपुरुषार्थे मध्यमपुरुष-प्रयोगः; एकवचनम्, प्रथमा (1st case, nominative), पुल्लिङ्ग/स्त्रीलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग-निर्लिङ्ग-प्रयोगः (gender-neutral pronoun)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), हेत्वर्थ/निश्चयार्थ-प्रयोगः (indeed/for)

• सत्यव्रतः: one whose vow is truthful
• सत्यव्रतः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier of त्वम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत्य-व्रत (प्रातिपदिक; सत्य + व्रत)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समासः (determinative): सत्यं व्रतम् यस्य/सत्यं व्रतम्; पुल्लिङ्गः, एकवचनम्, प्रथमा (nominative singular masculine)

• शूरः: heroic
• शूरः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier of त्वम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शूर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्गः, एकवचनम्, प्रथमा (nominative singular masculine)

• धार्मिकः: righteous
• धार्मिकः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier of त्वम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धार्मिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्गः, एकवचनम्, प्रथमा (nominative singular masculine)

• दृढविक्रमः: of firm prowess
• दृढविक्रमः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier of त्वम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दृढ-विक्रम (प्रातिपदिक; दृढ + विक्रम)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समासः (descriptive): दृढः विक्रमः यस्य/दृढः विक्रमः; पुल्लिङ्गः, एकवचनम्, प्रथमा (nominative singular masculine)

• परीक्ष्यकारी: one who acts after examination
• परीक्ष्यकारी: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier of त्वम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परीक्ष्य-कारिन् (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; परीक्ष् (धातु) + ल्यप्/क्त्वा-भावः ‘परीक्ष्य’ + कृ (धातु) + णिनि/इन् ‘कारिन्’)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समासः: परीक्ष्य (having examined) + कारिन् (one who does); पुल्लिङ्गः, एकवचनम्, प्रथमा (nominative singular masculine)

• स्मृतिमान्: mindful, possessing memory
• स्मृतिमान्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier of त्वम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्मृति-मत् (प्रातिपदिक; स्मृति + मतुप्)
• Form: मतुप्-प्रत्ययान्त (possessive adjective); पुल्लिङ्गः, एकवचनम्, प्रथमा (nominative singular masculine)

• निसृष्टात्मा: self-committed, resolute in heart
• निसृष्टात्मा: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier of त्वम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निसृष्ट-आत्मन् (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; नि+सृज् (धातु) + क्त ‘निसृष्ट’ + आत्मन्)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समासः: निसृष्टः आत्मा यस्य/निसृष्टः आत्मा (self committed/entrusted); पुल्लिङ्गः, एकवचनम्, प्रथमा (nominative singular masculine)

• सुहृत्सु: among friends
• सुहृत्सु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative: among/with respect to friends)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुहृत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्गः, बहुवचनम्, सप्तमी (7th case, locative plural)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

Context

"You are a truthful follower of vows, a heroic and righteous one. You are firm in your resolve, capable of good judgment, have a good memory of the past traditions and committed in heart to your friends."

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• suhṛt (friends/allies)

FAQs

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

Dharma is grounded in satya and parīkṣā (verification): righteousness is not impulsive; it tests, remembers precedent, and protects friends faithfully.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma’s allies describe his virtues to affirm that his eventual decision about Vibhīṣaṇa will be truth-based and dharmic.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Satya (truthfulness) joined to discernment (parīkṣyakārī) and steadfast loyalty to friends.