Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 18, Shloka 8

शरणागति

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

Devanagari script

अनधीत्यचशास्त्राणिवृद्धाननुपसेव्यच ।नशक्यमीदृशंवक्तुंयदुवाचहरीश्वरः ।।।।

Transliteration

anadhītya ca śāstrāṇi vṛddhān anupasevya ca | na śakyam īdṛśaṃ vaktuṃ yad uvāca harīśvaraḥ ||

Translation

このようにヴァーナラの主が語られた言葉は、シャーストラを学ばず、長老に仕えなかった者には到底口にできぬ。

Word by Word

• अनधीत्य: without studying
• अनधीत्य: हेतु/पूर्वक्रिया (cause/prior action circumstance)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अधि-इ (धातु) + क्त्वा-प्रत्यय; उपसर्गः अधि-, नञ्-पूर्वकः (न + अधीत्य)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययम् (absolutive/gerund); नञ्-निषेधपूर्वकं; अर्थः—"अधीत्य" = having studied, "अनधीत्य" = without studying

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्ययम् (conjunction)

• शास्त्राणि: treatises / scriptures
• शास्त्राणि: कर्म (object of अनधीत्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शास्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्तिः; बहुवचनम् (accusative plural neuter)

• वृद्धान्: elders
• वृद्धान्: कर्म (object of अनुपसेव्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्तिः; बहुवचनम् (accusative plural masculine)

• अनुपसेव्य: without serving / without attending upon
• अनुपसेव्य: हेतु/पूर्वक्रिया (cause/prior action circumstance)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अनु-उप-सेव् (धातु) + क्त्वा-प्रत्यय; उपसर्गौ अनु-, उप-; नञ्-पूर्वकः (न + अनुपसेव्य)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययम् (absolutive/gerund); नञ्-निषेधपूर्वकं; अर्थः—"अनुपसेव्य" = without serving/attending upon

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्ययम् (conjunction)

• न: not
• न: निषेध (negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्ययम् (negation particle)

• शक्यम्: possible
• शक्यम्: विधेय (predicate complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शक्य (प्रातिपदिक; शक्-धातोः यत्-प्रत्ययान्तः—"able/possible")
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्तिः; एकवचनम् (nominative singular neuter); विधेय-विशेषणम् (predicative adjective)

• ईदृशम्: such / like this
• ईदृशम्: कर्म (object-qualifier: "such" [speech])
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ईदृश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्तिः; एकवचनम् (accusative singular neuter); "वक्तुम्" इत्यस्य कर्मविशेषणम्

• वक्तुम्: to speak
• वक्तुम्: प्रयोजन/अनुयोग (complementary infinitive to predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु) + तुमुन्-प्रत्यय (infinitive)
• Form: तुमुनन्तम् (infinitive); अर्थः—"to speak"; "न शक्यम्" इत्यस्य पूरकः (complement of śakyam)

• यद्: that which
• यद्: कर्म (object of उवाच)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्तिः; एकवचनम् (accusative singular neuter); सम्बन्धक-सर्वनाम (relative pronoun) — "that which"

• उवाच: said / spoke
• उवाच: क्रिया (main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु) — लिट्-लकारः (परस्मैपदम्)
• Form: लिट्-लकारः (perfect); प्रथम-पुरुषः; एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

• हरीश्वरः: the lord of monkeys (Hanuman)
• हरीश्वरः: कर्ता (agent/subject of उवाच)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिके; समासः)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्तिः; एकवचनम् (nominative singular masculine); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (हरिणाम् ईश्वरः = lord of monkeys)

Context

On hearing the words of the king of Vanaras, Rama of Kakuthsa dynasty and of truthful valour looked at all and threw a smile slightly at meritorious Lakshmana and spoke these words.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma (implied as speaker by context)
• Sugrīva (Harīśvara)
• Śāstra
• Elders (Vṛddha)

FAQs

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

Dharma is cultivated wisdom: right counsel arises from learning (śāstra) and humility/service to elders—ethical judgment is trained, not accidental.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma responds to Sugrīva’s counsel by acknowledging the depth of his worldly and ethical discernment.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sugrīva’s maturity in counsel (as recognized by Rāma), and Rāma’s fairness in honoring good advice even when he may differ in conclusion.