Shloka 37

विभीषणागमनम्

Vibhīṣaṇa’s Arrival and the Debate on Refuge

Devanagari script

तस्मादेकैकशस्तावद्ब्रुवन्तुसचिवास्तव ।हेतुतोमतिसम्पन्नास्समर्थाश्चपुन: पुनः ।।6.17.37।।

Transliteration

tasmād ekaikaśas tāvad bruvantu sacivās tava |

hetuto matisampannāḥ samarthāś ca punaḥ punaḥ ||6.17.37||

Translation

C’est pourquoi que tes conseillers—avisés et capables—parlent tour à tour, en donnant leurs raisons, et de nouveau autant qu’il le faudra.

Word by Word

• तस्मात्: therefore, from that
• तस्मात्: Hetu/Apadana (हेतु/अपादान: therefore/from that reason)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; एकवचनम्, पञ्चमी (5th case, ablative), नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुल्लिङ्ग-प्रयोगः (from that/therefore)

• एकैकशः: one by one
• एकैकशः: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverb of bruvantu)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एक-एक-शस् (अव्यय; एक + एक + शस्)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb), वितरणार्थकः (one by one)

• तावत्: for the time being
• तावत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse limiter)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तावत् (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (particle/adverb), परिमाण/अवधि-अर्थः (for now/so much)

• ब्रुवन्तु: let them speak
• ब्रुवन्तु: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकारः (imperative), प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd person), बहुवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

• सचिवाः: ministers
• सचिवाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject of bruvantu)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सचिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्गः, बहुवचनम्, प्रथमा (nominative plural)

• तव: your
• तव: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठीसम्बन्ध/Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; एकवचनम्, षष्ठी (6th case, genitive)

• हेतुतः: with reasons
• हेतुतः: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हेतु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb): हेतुतः = हेतोः कारणात् (by reason/with reasoning)

• मतिसम्पन्नाः: intelligent
• मतिसम्पन्नाः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier of सचिवाः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मति-सम्पन्न (प्रातिपदिक; मति + सम्पन्न)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समासः: मत्या सम्पन्नाः (endowed with intelligence); पुल्लिङ्गः, बहुवचनम्, प्रथमा (nominative plural masculine)

• समर्थाः: capable
• समर्थाः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier of सचिवाः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्गः, बहुवचनम्, प्रथमा (nominative plural masculine)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb), पुनरुक्ति-बल (emphatic repetition)

Context

"On account of that reason, since your ministers are richly endowed with intelligence let them speak out again and again, one after the other in that way."

Characters & Entities

• Rāma

FAQs

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

Dharma in decision-making requires transparent reasoning: counsel should be sequential, rational, and open to repeated examination until truth is clarified.

What is the narrative situation?

The advisers encourage a structured, reason-based discussion among Rāma’s counsellors regarding how to respond to Vibhīṣaṇa’s approach.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Commitment to reasoned inquiry (hetu) and institutional wisdom (listening to multiple capable voices).