Valmiki Ramayana 6.18.17 — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 18, Shloka 17

शरणागति

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

Devanagari script

रावणेनप्रणिहितंतमवेहिविभीषणम् ।तस्याहंनिग्रहंमन्येक्षमंक्षमवतांवर ।।।।

Transliteration

rāvaṇena praṇihitaṃ tam avehi vibhīṣaṇam | tasyāhaṃ nigrahaṃ manye kṣamaṃ kṣamavatāṃ vara ||

Translation

ವಿಭೀಷಣನು ರಾವಣನಿಂದ ಕಳುಹಿಸಲ್ಪಟ್ಟವನೆಂದು ತಿಳಿ. ಹೇ ಕ್ಷಮಾವಂತರಲ್ಲಿ ಶ್ರೇಷ್ಠನೇ, ಅವನನ್ನು ತಡೆದು ನಿಲ್ಲಿಸುವುದು ಯುಕ್ತವೆಂದು ನಾನು ಮನಸುತ್ತೇನೆ.

Word by Word

• रावणेन: by Ravana
• रावणेन: कर्ता (agent, in passive construction)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रावण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे तृतीया-विभक्तिः एकवचनम् (masculine, instrumental case, singular)

• प्रणिहितम्: sent, dispatched
• प्रणिहितम्: कर्मविशेषणम् (qualifier of the object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र-√नी (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्तः (क्त-प्रत्ययान्त), नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचनम् (past passive participle; neuter nominative/accusative singular), ‘तम्’ इत्यनेन सह विशेषणम्

• तम्: him
• तम्: कर्म (object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया-विभक्तिः एकवचनम् (masculine, accusative case, singular)

• अवेहि: know, realize
• अवेहि: क्रिया (imperative action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव-√इ (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकारः, मध्यमपुरुषः, एकवचनम् (imperative, 2nd person singular), परस्मैपदम्

• विभीषणम्: Vibhishana
• विभीषणम्: कर्म (object; appositive identifier)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विभीषण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया-विभक्तिः एकवचनम् (masculine, accusative case, singular), ‘तम्’ इत्यस्य समानाधिकरणम् (apposition)

• तस्य: of him, his
• तस्य: सम्बन्ध (genitive relation/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे षष्ठी-विभक्तिः एकवचनम् (masculine/neuter, genitive case, singular)

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: कर्ता (subject/agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुषवाचक-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः एकवचनम् (1st person pronoun, nominative singular)

• निग्रहम्: restraint, capture, suppression
• निग्रहम्: कर्म (object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निग्रह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया-विभक्तिः एकवचनम् (masculine, accusative singular)

• मन्ये: I think, I consider
• मन्ये: क्रिया (main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √मन् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकारः, उत्तमपुरुषः, एकवचनम् (present indicative, 1st person singular), आत्मनेपदम्

• क्षमम्: proper, fitting, appropriate
• क्षमम्: कर्मविशेषणम् (qualifier of the object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया-विभक्तिः एकवचनम् (neuter, accusative singular), ‘निग्रहम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• क्षमवताम्: of the forbearing/forgiving (people)
• क्षमवताम्: सम्बन्ध (genitive relation: among/of the forbearing)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षमवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे षष्ठी-विभक्तिः बहुवचनम् (masculine, genitive plural), ‘वर’ इत्यस्य सम्बन्धः

• वर: O best (one)
• वर: सम्बोधन (address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे सम्बोधन-प्रथमा एकवचनम् (masculine, vocative/nominative singular; used as address)

Context

"O sinless mightyarmed Rama I believe that this Rakshasa has been sent to come here covertly to strike at you or me or Lakshmana. On knowing that you are here the cruel Ravana's brother has come greedily along with his counsellors to kill you."Sugriva the chief of the army, who was good at speech and adept in expression, having said to Rama, the best among the Raghu race, remained silent thereafter.

Characters & Entities

• Sugrīva
• Rāma
• Vibhīṣaṇa
• Rāvaṇa

FAQs

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

Protective duty: a leader’s ally must warn of danger; dharma in war includes preventing deception and safeguarding the righteous cause.

What is the narrative situation?

Sugrīva openly advises Rāma that Vibhīṣaṇa may be an agent of Rāvaṇa and should be restrained.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sugrīva’s vigilance and frank counsel, offered respectfully to a patient and principled king.