Shloka 38

विभीषणाभिषेकः

The Consecration of Vibhishana and Counsel on Crossing the Ocean

Devanagari script

किमर्थनौनरव्याघ्र: नरोचिष्यतिराघव: ।विभीषणेनयच्चोक्तमस्मिन् कालेसुखावहम् ।।6.19.38।।

Transliteration

kim arthaṃ nau naravyāghraḥ na rociṣyati rāghavaḥ | vibhīṣaṇena yac coktam asmin kāle sukhāvaham ||6.19.38||

Translation

«O Rāghava, Tiger unter den Menschen, warum sollten wir nicht gutheißen, was Vibhīṣaṇa gesagt hat—so zeitgemäß und heilsam, das in diesem Augenblick Gutes bringt?»

Word by Word

• abadhvā: having built
• abadhvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bandh (धातु) + ā- (उपसर्ग) > abadhvā (क्त्वान्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive), ‘having built/bound’

• sāgare: in/over the ocean
• sāgare: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sāgara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• setum: a bridge
• setum: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: setu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• ghore: terrible
• ghore: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ghora (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; adjective to asmin/varuṇālaye/sāgare

• asmin: in this
• asmin: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• varuṇa-ālaye: in Varuna's abode (the sea)
• varuṇa-ālaye: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: varuṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + ālaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः ‘वरुणस्य आलयः’

• laṅkām: Lanka
• laṅkām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: laṅkā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• āsāditum: to reach
• āsāditum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √sad (धातु) + ā- (उपसर्ग) > āsāditum (तुमुन्)
• Form: तुमुनन्त (infinitive), ‘to reach/attain’

• aśakyāḥ: impossible
• aśakyāḥ: Predicate (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-śakya (प्रातिपदिक; √śak + यत्)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; predicate adjective ‘not possible’

• sa-indraiḥ: even with Indras (i.e., including Indra)
• sa-indraiḥ: Kartṛ/Instrument (कर्ता/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sa (सह) (अव्यय-उपसर्गवत्) + indra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावः ‘सह इन्द्रैः’; पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन

• api: even
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; particle (emphasis ‘even’)

• sura-asuraiḥ: by gods and demons
• sura-asuraiḥ: Kartṛ/Instrument (कर्ता/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sura (प्रातिपदिक) + asura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन; द्वन्द्वः ‘सुराश्च असुराश्च’

Context

"O Raghava, the tiger among kings! Why will this good advice given to us at this time by Vibheeshana be not pleasing?" Sugriva and Lakshmana said to Rama."

Characters & Entities

• Rāma (Rāghava)
• Vibhīṣaṇa
• Lakṣmaṇa
• Sugrīva

FAQs

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

Dharma includes recognizing and accepting timely, beneficial counsel regardless of the adviser’s origin—truth and usefulness are honored over prejudice.

What is the narrative situation?

Lakṣmaṇa and Sugrīva endorse Vibhīṣaṇa’s advice as suitable for the present crisis of crossing the ocean.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Good judgment and fairness in counsel—supporting what is right and effective at the proper time.