Shloka 17

विभीषणागमनम्

Vibhīṣaṇa’s Arrival and the Debate on Refuge

Devanagari script

सर्वलोकशरण्यायराघवायमहात्मने ।निवेदयतमांक्षिप्रंविभीषणमुपस्थितम् ।।6.17.17।।

Transliteration

sarva-loka-śaraṇyāya rāghavāya mahātmane | nivedayata māṃ kṣipraṃ vibhīṣaṇam upasthitam ||

Translation

സകല ലോകങ്ങൾക്കും ശരണമായ മഹാത്മാവായ രാഘവൻ ശ്രീരാമനോട് വേഗത്തിൽ അറിയിക്കൂ—ഞാൻ വിഭീഷണൻ ഇവിടെ സന്നിഹിതനായി നില്ക്കുന്നു.

Word by Word

• सर्वलोकशरण्याय: to the refuge of all worlds
• सर्वलोकशरण्याय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/Dative recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व-लोक-शरण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (4th/Dative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: सर्वलोकानां शरण्यः (protector of all worlds)

• राघवाय: to Raghava (Rama)
• राघवाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राघव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (4th/Dative), एकवचन

• महात्मने: to the great-souled one
• महात्मने: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (4th/Dative), एकवचन

• निवेदयत: inform, report
• निवेदयत: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-विद् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), द्विवचन; परस्मैपद

• माम्: me
• माम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• क्षिप्रम्: quickly, at once
• क्षिप्रम्: Kala/Prakara (काल/प्रकार; adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्षिप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• विभीषणम्: Vibhishana
• विभीषणम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विभीषण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• उपस्थितम्: arrived/present
• उपस्थितम्: Karma-anubandha (कर्मसम्बन्धे विशेषणम्)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-स्था (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त-भूतकर्मणि (past passive participle/कर्मणि क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विभीषणम् इति कर्मपदस्य विशेषणम्

Context

At once you may inform Raghava who is a protector of the whole world that I, Vibheeshana, are waiting here.

Characters & Entities

• Vibhīṣaṇa
• Rāghava (Rāma)

FAQs

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

Dharma is portrayed as rightful refuge: the righteous king is ‘śaraṇya’ (protector), and one who seeks protection openly and truthfully follows the dharmic path of surrender.

What is the narrative situation?

At Rāma’s boundary, Vibhīṣaṇa requests that his arrival be promptly reported to Rāma.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Humility and straightforwardness—Vibhīṣaṇa declares his identity and intention without deceit.