Shloka 13

विभीषणागमनम्

Vibhīṣaṇa’s Arrival and the Debate on Refuge

Devanagari script

तेनसीताजनस्थानाद्धृताहत्वाजटायुषम् ।रुद्दाचविवशादीनाराक्षसीभिस्सुरक्षिता ।।6.17.13।।

Transliteration

tena sītā janasthānād dhṛtā hatvā jaṭāyuṣam | ruddhā ca vivaśā dīnā rākṣasībhiḥ surakṣitā ||6.17.13||

Translation

Por él (Rāvaṇa), Sītā fue raptada de Jana-sthāna tras dar muerte a Jaṭāyu; permanece recluida, indefensa y afligida, bajo estrecha custodia de las rākṣasīs.

Word by Word

• तेन: by him
• तेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसक, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• सीता: Sita
• सीता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सीता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• जनस्थानात्: from Janasthana
• जनस्थानात्: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जनस्थान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/अपादान), एकवचन

• धृता: carried off
• धृता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘seized/carried off’

• हत्वा: having killed
• हत्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive), धातु: हन् (having killed)

• जटायुषम्: Jatayu
• जटायुषम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जटायुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• रुद्धा: confined
• रुद्धा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रुध् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘confined/detained’

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय-निपात

• विवशा: helpless
• विवशा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विवश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (सीता)

• दीना: wretched
• दीना: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (सीता)

• राक्षसीभिः: by rakshasis
• राक्षसीभिः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षसी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• सुरक्षिता: well guarded
• सुरक्षिता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु-रक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपसर्ग: सु- (well-guarded)

Context

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

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Rāvaṇa
• Janasthāna
• Jatāyu
• Rākṣasīs

FAQs

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

Adharma is identified by harm and coercion: the verse highlights the unrighteousness of violence (killing Jatāyu) and abduction/imprisonment (Sītā’s confinement).

What is the narrative situation?

The poem recapitulates the key wrongs that led to the war: Sītā’s abduction from Janasthāna, Jatāyu’s death while resisting, and Sītā’s guarded captivity among rākṣasīs.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s endurance and inner steadfastness under oppression (dharma as unwavering fidelity and moral strength), contrasted with Rāvaṇa’s adharma.