Shloka 44

विभीषणागमनम्

Vibhīṣaṇa’s Arrival and the Debate on Refuge

Devanagari script

प्रणिधायहिचारेणयथावत्सूक्ष्मबुद्धिना ।परीक्ष्यचततःकार्योयथान्यायंपरिग्रहः ।।6.17.44।।

Transliteration

praṇidhāya hi cāreṇa yathāvat sūkṣma-buddhinā |

parīkṣya ca tataḥ kāryo yathā-nyāyaṃ parigrahaḥ ||6.17.44||

Translation

En vérité, en dépêchant un espion au jugement subtil et en examinant l’affaire comme il convient, alors seulement faut-il l’accueillir, selon ce qui est juste et approprié.

Word by Word

• प्रणिधाय: having employed
• प्रणिधाय: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया/Absolutive)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र+नि+धा (धातु) + क्त्वा/ल्यप् (अव्ययकृदन्त)
• Form: ल्यप्/क्त्वा-अर्थे अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund): ‘having deployed/placed’

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

• चारेण: by a spy
• चारेण: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्गः, एकवचनम्, तृतीया (instrumental singular)

• यथावत्: properly
• यथावत्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथावत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb): properly, as it should be

• सूक्ष्मबुद्धिना: with subtle intelligence
• सूक्ष्मबुद्धिना: Karana (करण/Instrument/Means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूक्ष्म-बुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक; सूक्ष्म + बुद्धि)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समासः: सूक्ष्मा बुद्धिः यस्य (subtle intellect); पुल्लिङ्गः/नपुंसकलिङ्गः (बुद्धि स्त्रीलिङ्ग), एकवचनम्, तृतीया (instrumental singular)

• परीक्ष्य: having examined
• परीक्ष्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया/Absolutive)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परीक्ष् (धातु) + क्त्वा/ल्यप् (अव्ययकृदन्त)
• Form: ल्यप्/क्त्वा-अर्थे अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund): ‘having examined’

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

• ततः: then
• ततः: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb): thereafter

• कार्यः: to be done
• कार्यः: Vidhi (विधि/Obligation qualifier of परिग्रहः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु) + ण्यत्/यत् (कृदन्त)
• Form: ण्यत्/यत्-प्रत्ययान्त विधेय (to be done); पुल्लिङ्गः, एकवचनम्, प्रथमा (nominative singular)

• यथान्यायम्: according to propriety
• यथान्यायम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा-न्याय (प्रातिपदिक; यथा + न्याय)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समासः: यथान्यायम् = न्यायानुसारम् (according to justice); क्रियाविशेषणवत्

• परिग्रहः: acceptance
• परिग्रहः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject: acceptance)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परिग्रह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्गः, एकवचनम्, प्रथमा (nominative singular)

Context

"By employing a spy with subtle intellect to examine Vibheeshana, we can act in an appropriate manner to accept him (Vibheeshana)."

Characters & Entities

• Śarabha
• Rāma
• Vibhīṣaṇa (contextual referent)

FAQs

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

Dharma is justice guided by verification: acceptance must follow examination, so that truth is established and actions remain fair.

What is the narrative situation?

Śarabha proposes a methodical test—use a capable spy, verify, and then decide whether to accept Vibhīṣaṇa.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Commitment to yathā-nyāya (acting appropriately and justly), avoiding rash decisions.