Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 87, Shloka 17

न्यग्रोध

प्रवेश-निवारणम् (Preventing Indrajit’s Banyan-Tree Rite) / Indrajit Confronts Vibhishana

Devanagari script

निरनुक्रोशताचेयंयादृशीतेनिशाचर ।स्वजनेनत्वयाशक्यंपौरुषंरावणानुज ।।6.87.17।।

Transliteration

niranukrośatā ceyaṃ yādṛśī te niśācara | svajanena tvayā śakyaṃ pauruṣaṃ rāvaṇānuja || 6.87.17 ||

Translation

O Nachtwandler, Bruder Rāvaṇas! So sieht die Erbarmungslosigkeit aus, die du zeigst; ein solches „Heldentum“ ist nur möglich, wenn es gegen die Eigenen gerichtet wird.

Word by Word

• niranukrośatā: ruthlessness
• niranukrośatā: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nir-anukrośatā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन (Nom sg)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (and)

• iyam: this
• iyam: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन (Nom sg)

• yādṛśī: of what kind
• yādṛśī: Prakara (प्रकार/qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yādṛś (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन (Nom sg); विशेषणम् ‘निरनुक्रोशता’

• te: of you/your
• te: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी एकवचन (Gen sg)

• niśācara: O night-ranger
• niśācara: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: niśācara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन एकवचन (Voc sg)

• svajanena: with one’s own people
• svajanena: Karana (करण/instrument/means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: svajana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया एकवचन (Instr sg)

• tvayā: by you
• tvayā: Kartr-karana (कर्ता/agent, with ‘śakyam’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया एकवचन (Instr sg)

• śakyam: possible
• śakyam: Pradhana-predicative (विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śakya (प्रातिपदिक; from √śak)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन (Nom/Acc sg); शक्-धातोः यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (possible/able)

• pauruṣam: manliness/heroism
• pauruṣam: Karma (कर्म/thing possible)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pauruṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन (Nom/Acc sg); ‘śakyam’ इत्यस्य विषयः

• rāvaṇānuja: O younger brother of Ravana
• rāvaṇānuja: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāvaṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + anuja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन एकवचन (Voc sg); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (rāvaṇasya anujaḥ)

Context

"O Ravana's brother! You have shown ruthlessness this way. O night ranger! Only you could exhibit this kind of manliness."

Characters & Entities

• Indrajit (Meghanāda)
• Vibhīṣaṇa
• Rāvaṇa

FAQs

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

The verse criticizes cruelty and implies that true valor is not shown by harming one’s own kin; dharma restrains power with compassion and right targets.

What is the narrative situation?

Indrajit taunts Vibhīṣaṇa, framing his stance against Laṅkā as ruthless ‘heroism’ directed toward his own people.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

By contrast (through accusation), the virtue at stake is dayā (compassion) and righteous courage—valor aligned with dharma rather than kin-destruction.