Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 18, Shloka 24

शरणागति

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

Devanagari script

सहितंप्रतिजग्राहभार्याहर्तारमागतः ।कपोतोवानरश्रेष्ठ: किंपुनर्मद्विधोजनः ।।।।

Transliteration

sahitaṃ pratijagrāha bhāryā-hartāram āgataḥ | kapoto vānaraśreṣṭhaḥ kiṃ punar mad-vidho janaḥ || 6.18.24 ||

Translation

ヴァーナラの中の最勝よ、その鳩は、つれあいを奪った者が近づいて来たときでさえ受け入れて庇護した。ましてや私のような者が、なおさらそうすべきではないか。

Word by Word

• सहितम्: together (with her)
• सहितम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सहित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; तम् (implicit) इत्यस्य विशेषणम्: "together/along with (his wife)"

• प्रतिजग्राह: accepted, received
• प्रतिजग्राह: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति-ग्रह् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन, परस्मैपद; उपसर्गः: प्रति-; अर्थः: "received/accepted"

• भार्याहर्तारम्: the abductor of (his) wife
• भार्याहर्तारम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भार्या-हर्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: भार्यायाः हर्ता (abductor of (his) wife)

• आगतः: who had come
• आगतः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; अर्थः: "having come" (qualifying the abductor)

• कपोतः: the dove
• कपोतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कपोत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• वानरश्रेष्ठ: O best of Vanaras
• वानरश्रेष्ठ: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वानर-श्रेष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: वानराणां श्रेष्ठः (best among Vanaras)

• किम्: what?
• किम्: Prashna (प्रश्न)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रश्नार्थक अव्यय (interrogative)

• पुनः: more, rather
• पुनः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, पुनरुक्ति/अधिक्यार्थक (more/again; here: "how much more")

• मद्विधः: like me
• मद्विधः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मद्-विध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः: मादृशः/मद्विधः (like me)

• जनः: a person
• जनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Context

"O Supreme Vanara When the fowler who had carried away the mate came near the dove it received him and in turn protected him. What more can a man like me do?"

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Sugrīva

FAQs

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

If even a small creature upholds refuge-protection toward a grievous offender, a righteous human ruler must uphold it all the more.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma strengthens his argument by extending the dove example: protection is owed even to one who has caused personal loss.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Magnanimity—placing dharma above personal grievance.