Shloka 51

विभीषणागमनम्

Vibhīṣaṇa’s Arrival and the Debate on Refuge

Devanagari script

नभवन्तंमतिश्रेष्ठंसमर्थंवदतांवरम् ।अतिशाययितुंशक्तोबृहस्पतिरपिब्रुवन् ।।6.17.51।।

Transliteration

na bhavantaṃ matiśreṣṭhaṃ samarthaṃ vadatāṃ varam | atiśāyayituṃ śakto bṛhaspatir api bruvan || 6.17.51 ||

Translation

Nicht einmal Bṛhaspati, berühmt für Weisheit, könnte dich im Sprechen übertreffen; so erhaben sind dein Verstand, deine Kraft und deine Meisterschaft der Rede.

Word by Word

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negator)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation)

• bhavantam: you
• bhavantam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; आदरार्थक-प्रयोग (honorific 'you')

• mati-śreṣṭham: best in intellect
• mati-śreṣṭham: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mati + śreṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (of bhavantam)

• samartham: capable
• samartham: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: samartha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (of bhavantam)

• vadatām: of speakers
• vadatām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vad (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्यय (present active participle) used in genitive plural: वदताम्; पुंलिङ्ग/सामान्य, षष्ठी-बहुवचन (Genitive plural)

• varam: foremost
• varam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (of bhavantam)

• ati-śāyayitum: to surpass
• ati-śāyayitum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/purpose)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ati-√śī (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्यय (infinitive), अव्ययभाव; 'to surpass'

• śaktaḥ: able
• śaktaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śakta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; predicate adjective (of bṛhaspatiḥ)

• bṛhaspatiḥ: Brihaspati
• bṛhaspatiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bṛhaspati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• api: even
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपि-अव्यय (particle: even)

• bruvan: speaking
• bruvan: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √brū (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्यय (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (of bṛhaspatiḥ)

Context

"Even for Brihaspati who is proclaimed to be highly intelligent, it is not possible to surpass you as you are the foremost in capability and eloquence."

Characters & Entities

• Hanumān
• Rāma
• Bṛhaspati

FAQs

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

Dharma in counsel includes respectful address: honoring a righteous leader’s discernment supports unity and truthful deliberation.

What is the narrative situation?

Hanumān begins his counsel by acknowledging Rāma’s superior judgment and eloquence before presenting his own view.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Hanumān’s humility and political tact—showing respect while entering a sensitive debate.