Shloka 12

विभीषणागमनम्

Vibhīṣaṇa’s Arrival and the Debate on Refuge

Devanagari script

रावणोनामदुर्वृत्तोराक्षसोराक्षसेश्वरः ।तस्याहमनुजोभ्राताविभीषणइतिश्रुतः ।।6.17.12।।

Transliteration

rāvaṇo nāma durvṛtto rākṣaso rākṣaseśvaraḥ |

tasyāham anujo bhrātā vibhīṣaṇa iti śrutaḥ ||6.17.12||

Translation

‘ദുഷ്ടചരിത്രനായ “രാവണൻ” എന്ന രാക്ഷസൻ രാക്ഷസാധിപനാണ്; ഞാൻ അവന്റെ അനുജസഹോദരൻ, “വിഭീഷണൻ” എന്ന പേരിൽ പ്രസിദ്ധൻ.’

Word by Word

• रावणः: Ravana
• रावणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रावण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• नाम: by name
• नाम: Viśeṣaṇa-nipāta (विशेषण-निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाम (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; नामार्थक-निपात (by name)

• दुर्वृत्तः: of evil conduct
• दुर्वृत्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर् (उपसर्ग/प्रातिपदिक) + वृत्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय/उपपद-समासार्थ (दुष्टं वृत्तं यस्य); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (रावणः)

• राक्षसः: a rakshasa
• राक्षसः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• राक्षस-ईश्वरः: lord of rakshasas
• राक्षस-ईश्वरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (राक्षसानाम् ईश्वरः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा, एकवचन; उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम

• अनुजः: younger
• अनुजः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनुज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (भ्राता)

• भ्राता: brother
• भ्राता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भ्रातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• विभीषणः: Vibhishana
• विभीषणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विभीषण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नाम

• इति: thus
• इति: Vākyānvaya (वाक्यान्वय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उद्धरण/इत्यर्थक-निपात (quotative)

• श्रुतः: known/called
• श्रुतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘heard/known as’

Context

Vibheeshana, having addressed Ravana in harsh language, reached Rama and Lakshmana in a short while.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Vibhīṣaṇa
• Rākṣasas

FAQs

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

Satya (truthfulness) as dharma in action: Vibhīṣaṇa openly states his identity and relationship to the enemy, refusing deception even when seeking asylum—truth becomes the foundation for righteous alliance.

What is the narrative situation?

Arriving near Rāma’s side, Vibhīṣaṇa introduces himself and acknowledges Rāvaṇa’s wickedness, clarifying who he is and why his approach is morally motivated.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Candor and accountability: Vibhīṣaṇa does not hide his lineage; he distinguishes himself by ethical judgment and truthful self-identification.