Shloka 5

विभीषणागमनम्

Vibhīṣaṇa’s Arrival and the Debate on Refuge

Devanagari script

तमात्मपञ्चमंदृष्टवासुग्रीवोवाहिनीपति: ।वानरैस्सहदुर्धर्षचिन्तयामासबुद्धिमान् ।।6.17.5।।

Transliteration

tam ātmapañcamaṃ dṛṣṭvā sugrīvo vāhinīpatiḥ | vānaraiḥ saha durdharṣaś cintayām āsa buddhimān || 6.17.5 ||

Translation

Le voyant—Vibhīṣaṇa, comme le cinquième compagnon en dehors des quatre—Sugrīva, sage et redoutable seigneur de l’armée des vānara, se mit à délibérer avec les chefs vānara.

Word by Word

• tam: him
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• ātmapañcamam: as the fifth (counting himself)
• ātmapañcamam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ātman + pañcama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (आत्मा पञ्चमो यस्मिन्/आत्मनः पञ्चमः = as the fifth including oneself); qualifies "tam"

• dṛṣṭvā: having seen
• dṛṣṭvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dṛś (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund); पूर्वकाल (having seen)

• sugrīvaḥ: Sugrīva
• sugrīvaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sugrīva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• vāhinīpatiḥ: commander/lord of the army
• vāhinīpatiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāhinī + pati (प्रातिपदिकsing)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (वाहिन्याः पतिः = lord of the army)

• vānaraiḥ: with the monkeys (Vānaras)
• vānaraiḥ: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vānara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• saha: together with
• saha: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: saha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; सह-योगे

• durdharṣaḥ: hard to assail/formidable
• durdharṣaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dur + dharṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपसर्ग/उपपद: दु:; qualifies "sugrīvaḥ"

• cintayāmāsa: pondered/began thinking
• cintayāmāsa: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √cint (धातु) (णिच् causative stem cintay-)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; causative usage (he began to think/pondered)

• buddhimān: wise/intelligent
• buddhimān: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: buddhimant (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; qualifies "sugrīvaḥ"

Context

"Mainda, who was prudent in making policy and rich in expression, considering all facts expressed this statement that was fully logical."

Characters & Entities

• Sugrīva
• Vibhīṣaṇa
• Vānara army (vānarāḥ)

FAQs

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

Dharma in leadership begins with careful deliberation: a ruler should not act impulsively when a new and uncertain person arrives, but should reflect with advisers before deciding.

What is the narrative situation?

Vibhīṣaṇa has approached Rāma’s camp; Sugrīva, noticing him as an additional (fifth) figure with four others, begins to consider what should be done.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sugrīva’s prudence and strategic wisdom—he pauses to think and consult rather than reacting emotionally.