Shloka 26

शरणागति

धर्मनिर्णयः (Decision on Refuge and Dharma) / Rama’s Vow of Protection and the Acceptance of Vibhishana

Devanagari script

बद्धाञ्जलिपुटंदीनंयाचन्तंशरणागतम् ।नहन्यदानृशंस्यार्थमपिशत्रुंपरन्तप ।।।।

Transliteration

baddhāñjalipuṭaṃ dīnaṃ yācantaṃ śaraṇāgatam | na hanyād ānṛśaṃsyārtham api śatruṃ parantapa || 6.18.26 ||

Translation

O Bezwinger der Feinde, man soll nicht töten — selbst keinen Feind — der als Schutzsuchender kommt und mit gefalteten Händen kläglich bittet, um der Nichtgrausamkeit willen.

Word by Word

• बद्ध-अञ्जलि-पुटम्: with hands folded in reverence
• बद्ध-अञ्जलि-पुटम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बद्ध (कृदन्त) + अञ्जलि + पुट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः (बहुपद-तत्पुरुषप्रायः): बद्धः अञ्जलिपुटः यस्य (folded-hands posture) — अत्र शरणागतम् इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• दीनम्: wretched, pitiable
• दीनम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; शरणागतम् इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• याचन्तम्: begging
• याचन्तम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: याच् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमान कृदन्त (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; शरणागतम् इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• शरणागतम्: one who has sought refuge
• शरणागतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरण-आगत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; द्वितीया-तत्पुरुषः: शरणं आगतः (one who has come for refuge)

• न: not
• न: Nishedha (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निषेध (negation particle)

• हन्यात्: should kill
• हन्यात्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person, general injunction), एकवचन, परस्मैपद; अर्थः: "should kill" (prohibitive with न)

• आनृशंस्य-अर्थम्: for compassion’s sake
• आनृशंस्य-अर्थम्: Hetu/Prayojana (हेतु/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आनृशंस्य-अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी/तत्पुरुषप्रायः: आनृशंस्यस्य अर्थः (for the sake of non-cruelty/compassion)

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha-bodhaka (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयार्थक (even)

• शत्रुम्: an enemy
• शत्रुम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत्रु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• परन्तप: O scorcher of enemies
• परन्तप: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परन्तप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः: परान् तपति (scorcher of foes)

Context

"O scorcher of enemies To one who greets reverentially with folded hands and begs for protection, we should not be cruel, and he is not to be killed."

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Sugrīva
• śatru (enemy)

FAQs

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

Śaraṇāgati-dharma: the refuge-seeker is inviolable; compassion (ānṛśaṃsya) forbids killing even a former enemy who surrenders.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma cites an ancient maxim to justify protecting a surrendering opponent in the midst of wartime decision-making.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Mercy governed by principle—compassion is treated as a duty, not a weakness.