Shloka 157

विभीषणागमनम्

Vibhīṣaṇa’s Arrival and the Debate on Refuge

Devanagari script

इत्युक्त्वापरुषंवाक्यंरावणंरावणानुजः ।आजगाममुहूर्तेनयत्ररामस्सलक्ष्मणः ।।6.17.1।।

Transliteration

ity uktvā paruṣaṃ vākyaṃ rāvaṇaṃ rāvaṇānujaḥ | ājagāma muhūrtena yatra rāmaḥ sa-lakṣmaṇaḥ ||

Translation

ഇങ്ങനെ രാവണനോടു കഠിനവചനങ്ങൾ പറഞ്ഞ ശേഷം, രാവണന്റെ അനുജനായ വിഭീഷണൻ ക്ഷണമാത്രത്തിൽ ലക്ഷ്മണസഹിതനായ ശ്രീരാമൻ നിലകൊണ്ടിരുന്ന സ്ഥലത്തേക്ക് എത്തി.

Word by Word

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), quotative particle (इति-प्रयोगः)

• uktvā: having said
• uktvā: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषणम्)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (वच् धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त), ‘having said’

• paruṣam: harsh
• paruṣam: Visheshana (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: paruṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); adjective qualifying ‘vākyaṃ’

• vākyam: speech/words
• vākyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vākya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• rāvaṇam: to Ravana
• rāvaṇam: Sampradana/Prati (सम्प्रदानम्/प्रति-सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāvaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• rāvaṇa-anujaḥ: Ravana's younger brother (Vibhishana)
• rāvaṇa-anujaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāvaṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + anuja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: ‘rāvaṇasya anujaḥ’); Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• ājagāma: came/reached
• ājagāma: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: gam (गम् धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); with preverb ā- (आ-)

• muhūrtena: in a short while
• muhūrtena: Karana/Adhikarana (करणम्; काल-निर्देशे)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muhūrta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• yatra: where
• yatra: Adhikarana (अधिकरणम्)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), relative adverb of place (देशवाचक-सम्बन्ध)

• rāmaḥ: Rama
• rāmaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• sa-lakṣmaṇaḥ: with Lakshmana
• sa-lakṣmaṇaḥ: Visheshana (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (सह/स अव्यय-पूर्वपद) + lakṣmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyayībhāva: ‘sa’ = ‘with’; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); adjective qualifying ‘rāmaḥ’

Context

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

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Vibhīṣaṇa
• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa

FAQs

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

Dharma here is the act of seeking the shelter of righteousness after rejecting adharma; it highlights the legitimacy of changing allegiance for truth.

What is the narrative situation?

The text narrates Vibhīṣaṇa reaching Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa shortly after addressing Rāvaṇa harshly.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Conscience-driven action—prioritizing ethical duty above familial or political ties.