Shloka 22

विभीषणाभिषेकः

The Consecration of Vibhishana and Counsel on Crossing the Ocean

Devanagari script

श्रुत्वातुवचनंतस्यरामस्याक्लिष्टकर्मणः ।शिरसावन्द्यधर्मात्मावक्तुमेवोपचक्रमे ।।6.19.22।।

Transliteration

śrutvā tu vacanaṃ tasya rāmasyākliṣṭakarmaṇaḥ | śirasā vandya dharmātmā vaktum evopacakrame ||6.19.22||

Translation

倦むことなき行いのラーマの言葉を聞くや、法にかなうヴィビーシャナは敬って頭を垂れ、語り始めた。

Word by Word

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund, क्त्वा)

• तु: indeed / but
• तु: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/विरोध-निपात (particle: ‘but/indeed’)

• वचनम्: words
• वचनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसक, षष्ठी (Genitive/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन; ‘रामस्य’ इत्यस्य सह-सम्बन्धः

• रामस्य: of Rama
• रामस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• अक्लिष्टकर्मणः: of the untiring-in-action (one)
• अक्लिष्टकर्मणः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अक्लिष्ट (प्रातिपदिक) + कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (कर्मणि अक्लिष्टः), पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; ‘रामस्य’ इति विशेषणम्

• शिरसा: with (his) head
• शिरसा: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental/करण), एकवचन

• वन्द्य: having bowed / paying obeisance
• वन्द्य: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वन्द् (धातु)
• Form: ल्यप्/तुमुन्-न (gerundive/absolutive-like indeclinable participle) here as कृदन्त-विशेषण; अर्थ: ‘वन्दित्वा/वन्दनं कृत्वा’ (having bowed)

• धर्मात्मा: the righteous one
• धर्मात्मा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्मात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (धर्मः आत्मा यस्य/धर्म-आत्मा), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/कर्ता), एकवचन

• वक्तुम्: to speak
• वक्तुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन् (infinitive/तुमन्त), अर्थ: ‘to speak’

• एव: indeed / just
• एव: Avadhāraṇa (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• उपचक्रमे: began / set about
• उपचक्रमे: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप + क्रम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्षभूत), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

Context

After having heard the words of Rama of untiring in action, Vibheeshana of righteous nature, started to speak with his head bent down (in reverence).

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Vibhīṣaṇa

FAQs

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

Dharma is expressed as humility and reverence toward a righteous leader; respectful conduct (vinaya) precedes speech and counsel.

What is the narrative situation?

After hearing Rāma, Vibhīṣaṇa responds formally—bowing his head—before speaking further in the war-council context.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Vibhīṣaṇa’s vinaya (humble, disciplined demeanor) and dharmic disposition in approaching Rāma.