Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 18, Shloka 12

शरणागति

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

Devanagari script

यस्तुदोषस्त्वयाप्रोक्तोह्यादानेऽरिबलस्यच ।तत्रतेकीर्तयिष्यामियथाशास्त्रमिदंशृणु ।।।।

Transliteration

yas tu doṣas tvayā prokto hy ādāne ’ribalasyaca | tatra te kīrtayiṣyāmi yathā śāstram idaṃ śṛṇu ||

Translation

あなたが述べた過失、すなわち敵の勢力に属する者を受け入れることについて、私は聖典（シャーストラ）の教えに従って説き明かそう。これを聞きなさい。

Word by Word

• यः: which/that (he/that one)
• यः: कर्ता (subject of implied copula/relative clause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः एकवचनम् (Masculine, Nominative, Singular); सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: सम्बन्ध/वाक्य-सम्बन्धक (discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपातः/समुच्चयार्थ-भेदकः (particle; contrast/emphasis)

• दोषः: fault, demerit
• दोषः: कर्ता/विषय (subject/topic: 'the fault')
• Type: Noun
• Root: दोष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः एकवचनम् (Masculine, Nominative, Singular)

• त्वया: by you
• त्वया: करण (agent/instrument with passive participle)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीय-पुरुष-सर्वनाम; तृतीया-विभक्तिः एकवचनम् (2nd-person pronoun; Instrumental, Singular)

• प्रोक्तः: spoken, stated
• प्रोक्तः: क्रियाविशेषण/विधेय (predicate participle agreeing with 'दोषः')
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + वच् (धातु) → प्रोक्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्तः भूतकर्मणि/भूतकृत् (past passive participle); पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः एकवचनम् (Masculine, Nominative, Singular); कर्मणि-प्रयोगार्थः (passive sense: 'has been said')

• हि: indeed/for
• हि: सम्बन्ध/वाक्य-सम्बन्धक (discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपातः (particle; emphasis/causal nuance)

• आदाने: in the taking/accepting
• आदाने: अधिकरण (locative: 'in/with regard to taking/accepting')
• Type: Noun
• Root: आदान (प्रातिपदिक) / आ + दा (धातु) → आदान (भाव/कर्म-नाम)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे सप्तमी-विभक्तिः एकवचनम् (Neuter, Locative, Singular); विषय/अधिकरणार्थः

• अरिबलस्य: of the enemy's strength/force
• अरिबलस्य: सम्बन्ध (genitive relation to 'आदाने')
• Type: Noun
• Root: अरि + बल (प्रातिपदिक) (समास: अरिबल)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (genitive determinative: 'enemy's strength'); नपुंसकलिङ्गे षष्ठी-विभक्तिः एकवचनम् (Neuter, Genitive, Singular)

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय (connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्ययम् (conjunction)

• तत्र: there, in that matter
• तत्र: अधिकरण (adverbial locus: 'therein')
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्ययम् (adverb of place/occasion: 'there/in that matter')

• ते: to you
• ते: सम्प्रदान (recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीय-पुरुष-सर्वनाम; चतुर्थी-विभक्तिः एकवचनम् (2nd-person pronoun; Dative, Singular)

• कीर्तयिष्यामि: I will narrate/declare
• कीर्तयिष्यामि: क्रिया (main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कीर्तय् (धातु; नामधातु from कीर्ति) / √कीर्त् (to mention) + णिच्
• Form: लृट्-लकारः (Simple Future); उत्तम-पुरुषः एकवचनम् (1st person, Singular); परस्मैपदम्

• यथा: as, according to
• यथा: क्रियाविशेषण (manner modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्ययम् (adverb: manner 'as/according to')

• शास्त्रम्: scripture, treatise
• शास्त्रम्: कर्म (object in the sense 'according to the scripture')
• Type: Noun
• Root: शास्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया-विभक्तिः एकवचनम् (Neuter, Accusative, Singular); उपमान/प्रमाणार्थे (as standard/authority with 'यथा')

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: कर्म (object of 'शृणु')
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदं (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया-विभक्तिः एकवचनम् (Neuter, Accusative, Singular); सर्वनाम

• शृणु: listen, hear
• शृणु: क्रिया (imperative: command/request)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकारः (Imperative); मध्यम-पुरुषः एकवचनम् (2nd person, Singular); परस्मैपदम्

Context

"We do not belong to their clan. Among Rakshasas there are some learned ones. Vibheeshana has come because of his desire for their (Rakshasa) kingdom, perhaps ?"

Characters & Entities

• Rāma

FAQs

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

Dharma in governance relies on informed judgment: decisions should be grounded in śāstra (principled guidance), not merely fear or anger.

What is the narrative situation?

Objections are raised about trusting someone from the enemy camp; Rāma responds that he will address the issue according to established teachings.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Intellectual integrity: appealing to reasoned tradition and principled norms in a crisis.