Shloka 39

विभीषणागमनम्

Vibhīṣaṇa’s Arrival and the Debate on Refuge

Devanagari script

शत्रोस्सकाशात्सम्प्राप्तस्सर्वथाशङ् क्यएवहि ।विश्वासयोग्यस्सहसानकर्तव्योविभीषणः ।।6.17.39।।

Transliteration

śatroḥ sakāśāt samprāptaḥ sarvathā śaṅkya eva hi |

viśvāsa-yogyaḥ sahasā na kartavyo vibhīṣaṇaḥ ||6.17.39||

Translation

ヴィビーシャナは敵の側から来たのだから、あらゆる点で疑いを抱くべきである。軽々しく一挙に信を置いてはならぬ。

Word by Word

• शत्रोः: of the enemy
• शत्रोः: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठीसम्बन्ध/Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत्रु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्गः, एकवचनम्, षष्ठी (genitive singular)

• सकाशात्: from (the) vicinity
• सकाशात्: Apadana (अपादान/Source)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सकाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पञ्चमी-प्रयोगे अव्ययीभाववत् (ablatival adverbial): सकाशात् = from the presence/side

• सम्प्राप्तः: arrived
• सम्प्राप्तः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier of विभीषणः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्+प्र+आप् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त (past participle): ‘having come/arrived’; पुल्लिङ्गः, एकवचनम्, प्रथमा (nominative singular)

• सर्वथा: in every way
• सर्वथा: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• शङ्क्यः: suspectable, to be suspected
• शङ्क्यः: Vidheyavisheshana (विधेयविशेषण/Predicate adjective of विभीषणः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शङ्क् (धातु) + यत् (कृदन्त)
• Form: यत्-प्रत्ययान्त साध्य/योग्यतावाचक कृदन्त: शङ्क्यः = ‘to be suspected’; पुल्लिङ्गः, एकवचनम्, प्रथमा (nominative singular)

• एव: certainly
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

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

• विश्वासयोग्यः: worthy of trust
• विश्वासयोग्यः: Vidheyavisheshana (विधेयविशेषण/Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विश्वास-योग्य (प्रातिपदिक; विश्वास + योग्य)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समासः: विश्वासस्य योग्यः (fit for trust); पुल्लिङ्गः, एकवचनम्, प्रथमा (nominative singular)

• सहसा: suddenly, hastily
• सहसा: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverb of कर्तव्यः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सहसा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb), आकस्मिकत्वे (suddenly/hastily)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Negator)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negation)

• कर्तव्यः: to be done/accepted
• कर्तव्यः: Vidhi (विधि/Obligation predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु) + तव्यत् (कृदन्त)
• Form: तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त विधिलिङ्गार्थक/कर्तव्यता-वाचक: कर्तव्यः = ‘to be done/accepted’; पुल्लिङ्गः, एकवचनम्, प्रथमा (nominative singular)

• विभीषणः: Vibhīṣaṇa
• विभीषणः: Karta (कर्ता/Topic/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विभीषण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्गः, एकवचनम्, प्रथमा (nominative singular)

Context

"Since he has come from the enemy's camp suddenly, surely Vibheeshana is to be suspected in every way. He is not worthy to be trusted."

Characters & Entities

• Vibhīṣaṇa
• Rāma

FAQs

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

Dharma in governance includes cautious discernment: trust must be earned through verification, especially when someone defects from an adversary.

What is the narrative situation?

Angada warns Rāma that a sudden arrival from the enemy’s camp can be a tactic; therefore Vibhīṣaṇa should be tested.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Prudence (nīti) and vigilance—protecting the righteous mission from deception.