Shloka 56

विभीषणागमनम्

Vibhīṣaṇa’s Arrival and the Debate on Refuge

Devanagari script

अदेशकालेसम्प्राप्तइत्ययंयद्विभीषणः ।विवक्षातत्रमेऽस्तीयंतांनिबोधयथामति ।।6.17.56।।

Transliteration

adeśa-kāle samprāpta ity ayaṃ yad vibhīṣaṇaḥ | vivakṣā tatra me 'stīyaṃ tāṃ nibodha yathā-mati || 6.17.56 ||

Translation

“ഈ വിഭീഷണൻ അനുപയോഗ്യമായ ദേശകാലത്തിൽ ഇവിടെ എത്തിയിരിക്കുന്നു—അതിനെക്കുറിച്ച് എനിക്ക് പറയാനുള്ളത് ഉണ്ട്; എന്റെ ബോധമനുസരിച്ചുള്ള അഭിപ്രായം ഗ്രഹിക്കൂ.”

Word by Word

• अदेशकाले: in an improper place and time
• अदेशकाले: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अ-देश-काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; द्वन्द्वसमासः (देशः + कालः) with नञ्-प्रत्यय (अ-), Locative: "in improper place and time"

• सम्प्राप्तः: has arrived
• सम्प्राप्तः: कर्तृसम्बन्ध (Karta-related predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-प्राप् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; "having arrived"

• इति: thus
• इति: सम्बन्ध/वाक्यचिह्न (Discourse marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; quotative particle (इति-प्रयोग)

• अयम्: this
• अयम्: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; demonstrative pronoun

• यत्: since/that
• यत्: हेतु/सम्बन्ध (Hetu/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययप्रयोगः; causal/quotative sense "since/that" (यत्-प्रयोग)

• विभीषणः: Vibhishana
• विभीषणः: कर्ता (Karta/Apposition to अयम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विभीषण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; proper noun

• विवक्षा: the intention to speak
• विवक्षा: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विवक्षा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; verbal noun from √वच् with desiderative sense: "wish to speak"

• तत्र: there/in that matter
• तत्र: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; adverb of place

• मे: my/to me
• मे: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी) एकवचन; enclitic genitive "of me / my"

• अस्ति: is
• अस्ति: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; parasmaipada

• इयम्: this (f.)
• इयम्: कर्ता (Karta/Apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; demonstrative pronoun (refers to विवक्षा)

• ताम्: that (it)
• ताम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; object pronoun

• निबोध: understand
• निबोध: क्रिया (Verb/Command)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-√बुध् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; "understand/consider"

• यथामति: according to my view
• यथामति: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा-मति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावसमासः (यथा + मति); adverb: "according to (my) understanding"

Context

"It seems proper for him (Vibheeshana) to come here, considering place and time and so also considering that you are superior to him (Ravana) even if there are demerits in him and merits in you."

Characters & Entities

• Vibhīṣaṇa
• Mainda
• Rāma

FAQs

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

Dharma of counsel: when uncertainty arises, one should speak responsibly and invite reasoned consideration rather than rash judgment.

What is the narrative situation?

Vibhīṣaṇa has approached Rāma’s camp, and the Vānaras are debating whether his arrival is trustworthy; Mainda begins to present his considered opinion.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Responsible speech and discernment—offering counsel with humility (“as I understand”) while seeking the king’s careful evaluation.