Shloka 22

विभीषणागमनम्

Vibhīṣaṇa’s Arrival and the Debate on Refuge

Devanagari script

प्रणिधीराक्षसेन्द्रस्यरावणस्यभवेदयम् ।अनुप्रविश्यसोऽस्मासुभेदंकुर्यान्नसंशयः ।।6.17.22।।

Transliteration

praṇidhī rākṣasendrasya rāvaṇasya bhaved ayam | anupraviśya so 'smāsu bhedaṃ kuryān na saṃśayaḥ || 6.17.22 ||

Translation

ഇവൻ രാക്ഷസേന്ദ്രനായ രാവണന്റെ പ്രണിധി (ചാരൻ) ആയിരിക്കാം; നമ്മുടെ പാളയത്തിലേക്ക് നുഴഞ്ഞുകയറി നമ്മിൽ ഭേദം വിതയ്ക്കും—ഇതിൽ സംശയമില്ല.

Word by Word

• प्रणिधिः: spy
• प्रणिधिः: Karta (कर्ता; predicate noun)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रणिधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• राक्षसेन्द्रस्य: of the rakshasa-king
• राक्षसेन्द्रस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस-इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: राक्षसानाम् इन्द्रः (king of rakshasas)

• रावणस्य: of Ravana
• रावणस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रावण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• भवेत्: might be
• भवेत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्-लकार (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अयम्: this one
• अयम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• अनुप्रविश्य: having entered
• अनुप्रविश्य: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु-प्र-विश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund), ‘having entered/infiltrated’

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• अस्मासु: among us
• अस्मासु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), बहुवचन; ‘among us/in our camp’

• भेदम्: division, breach
• भेदम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भेद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• कुर्यात्: might make
• कुर्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्-लकार (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• न: no/not
• न: Pratishedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation)

• संशयः: doubt
• संशयः: Karta (कर्ता; existential)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संशय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘doubt’ (predicate: ‘there is no doubt’)

Context

"This Rakshasa may be a spy who has found entry into our camp to create differences (among us). No doubt about it."

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Vibhīṣaṇa (implied as ‘he’)
• Rāma
• Sugrīva
• Rākṣasas
• Vānaras (implied camp/allies)

FAQs

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

Protecting unity is dharma: leaders must prevent internal विभेद (division), since discord can destroy a righteous cause from within.

What is the narrative situation?

Allies suspect Vibhīṣaṇa could be an infiltrator sent by Rāvaṇa to fracture the coalition.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Protective foresight—anticipating threats to morale and cohesion.