Shloka 70

विभीषणागमनम्

Vibhīṣaṇa’s Arrival and the Debate on Refuge

Devanagari script

इत्युक्त्वापरुषंवाक्यंरावणंरावणानुजः ।आजगाममुहूर्तेनयत्ररामस्सलक्ष्मणः ।।6.17.1।।

Transliteration

ityuktvā paruṣaṃ vākyaṃ rāvaṇaṃ rāvaṇānujaḥ |

ājagāma muhūrtena yatra rāmaḥ salakṣmaṇaḥ ||

Translation

Nachdem er Rāvaṇa solche harten Worte gesagt hatte, gelangte dessen jüngerer Bruder [Vibhīṣaṇa] in einem Augenblick dorthin, wo Rāma mit Lakṣmaṇa war.

Word by Word

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; इत्यादि-प्रकारकं वाक्य-समाप्ति/उद्धरण-सूचकं (quotative particle: "thus")

• उक्त्वा: having said
• उक्त्वा: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (absolutive/gerund); पूर्वकाल (having said)

• परुषम्: harsh
• परुषम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (Neuter, Accusative, Singular)

• वाक्यम्: speech/words
• वाक्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन (Neuter, Accusative, Singular)

• रावणम्: Ravana (to Ravana)
• रावणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रावण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन (Masculine, Accusative, Singular)

• रावणानुजः: Ravana's younger brother (Vibhishana)
• रावणानुजः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रावण (प्रातिपदिक) + अनुज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (genitive tatpurusha: "Ravana's younger brother"); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन (Masculine, Nominative, Singular)

• आजगाम: came/reached
• आजगाम: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (परस्मैपद) प्रयोगः; प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन (Perfect; 3rd person singular); उपसर्गः आ- (ā-)

• मुहूर्तेन: in a short while
• मुहूर्तेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुहूर्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन (Masculine, Instrumental, Singular); काल-परिमाणे (in/within a short time)

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

• रामः: Rama
• रामः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Nominative, Singular)

• सलक्ष्मणः: with Lakshmana
• सलक्ष्मणः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (अव्यय-उपपद) + लक्ष्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समासः (sa- = "with"); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; रामस्य विशेषणम् (Masculine, Nominative, Singular; adjectival: "accompanied by Lakshmana")

Context

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

Characters & Entities

• Ravana
• Vibhishana
• Rama
• Lakshmana

FAQs

Why is Vibhishana described as speaking 'paruṣam vākyam' (harsh words)?

Vibhishana spoke harshly because Ravana repeatedly rejected wise counsel and adhered to Adharma. This harshness marked the final severance of their relationship before Vibhishana chose the path of Righteousness (Dharma) with Rama.

What is the significance of Vibhishana arriving 'muhūrtena' (in a moment)?

It signifies the immediacy and decisiveness of Vibhishana's action. Once he realized that Ravana was beyond redemption, he did not hesitate to seek refuge with Rama, illustrating the urgency required when choosing Dharma over Adharma.