Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 18, Shloka 37

शरणागति

धर्मनिर्णयः (Decision on Refuge and Dharma) / Rama’s Vow of Protection and the Acceptance of Vibhishana

Devanagari script

तस्मात् क्षिप्रंसहास्माभिस्तुल्योभवतराघव: ।विभीषणोमहाप्राज्ञस्सखित्वंचाभ्युपैतुनः ।।।।

Transliteration

tasmāt kṣipraṃ sahāsmābhis tulyo bhavatu rāghava |

vibhīṣaṇo mahāprājñaḥ sakhitvaṃ cābhyupaitu naḥ ||

Translation

અતએવ, હે રાઘવ! મહાપ્રાજ્ઞ વિભીષણ ત્વરિતે અમારી વચ્ચે સમાન સ્થાન પામે, અને અમારી સાથે સખ్యతામાં પ્રવેશ કરે.

Word by Word

• tasmāt: therefore
• tasmāt: Hetu (हेतु/Conclusion marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तस्मात् (ablative used adverbially); हेतु/निष्कर्ष (therefore)

• kṣipram: quickly/at once
• kṣipram: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kṣipra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् प्रयोग (adverb: quickly/at once)

• saha: with
• saha: Sahakari (सहकारी/Associative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: saha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; सह (with)

• asmābhiḥ: with us
• asmābhiḥ: Sahakari (सहकारी/Association with ‘सह’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• tulyaḥ: equal
• tulyaḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण/Predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tulya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; predicate adjective

• bhavatu: let (him) be
• bhavatu: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• rāghava: O Rāghava
• rāghava: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāghava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

• vibhīṣaṇaḥ: Vibhīṣaṇa
• vibhīṣaṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject of ‘भवतु’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vibhīṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• mahāprājñaḥ: highly wise
• mahāprājñaḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā-prājña (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: कर्मधारय (महान् प्राज्ञः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण of ‘विभीषणः’

• sakhitvam: friendship
• sakhitvam: Karma (कर्म/Object of ‘अभ्युपैतु’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sakhitva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• abhyupaitu: let (him) attain/enter
• abhyupaitu: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi-upa-√i (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• naḥ: our/of us
• naḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; षष्ठी (6th/Genitive) बहुवचन (enclitic)

Context

"Rama therefore, let this highly sagacious Vibheeshana be with you like a friend in equal terms and enjoy."

Characters & Entities

• Sugrīva
• Rāma (Rāghava)
• Vibhīṣaṇa

FAQs

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

Dharma is restorative: a refugee is not merely spared but reintegrated with dignity—accepted as an equal and a friend.

What is the narrative situation?

Sugrīva urges Rāma to formalize acceptance of Vibhīṣaṇa as an ally and friend.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Generosity in alliance—Sugrīva’s readiness to welcome a former enemy-side figure into trust.