Valmiki Ramayana 6.17.8 — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 17, Shloka 8

विभीषणागमनम्

Vibhīṣaṇa’s Arrival and the Debate on Refuge

Devanagari script

सुग्रीवस्यवचश्रुत्वासर्वेतेवानरोत्तमाः ।सालानुद्यम्यशैलांश्चइदंवचनमब्रुवन् ।।6.17.8।।

Transliteration

sugrīvasya vacaḥ śrutvā sarve te vānarottamāḥ |

sālān udyamya śailāṃś ca idaṃ vacanam abruvan ||

Translation

സുഗ്രീവന്റെ വാക്കുകൾ കേട്ടപ്പോൾ, വാനരന്മാരിൽ ശ്രേഷ്ഠരായ എല്ലാവരും സാലവൃക്ഷങ്ങളും പാറക്കല്ലുകളും ഉയർത്തി പിടിച്ച് ഇങ്ങനെ പ്രതികരിച്ചു.

Word by Word

• सुग्रीवस्य: of Sugriva
• सुग्रीवस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुग्रीव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• वचः: words
• वचः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (वचस्-शब्द)

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive), धातु: श्रु (having heard)

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• ते: those
• ते: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• वानर-उत्तमाः: best of the vanaras
• वानर-उत्तमाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वानर (प्रातिपदिक) + उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (वानराः एव उत्तमाः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• सालान्: sala trees
• सालान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: साल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• उद्यम्य: having lifted
• उद्यम्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद्-यम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive), उपसर्ग: उद्-; धातु: यम् (having lifted/taken up)

• शैलान्: rocks/mountains
• शैलान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शैल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय-निपात (conjunction)

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• वचनम्: speech/words
• वचनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अब्रुवन्: said/uttered
• अब्रुवन्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

Context

Having heard Sugriva's words, all the Vanara leaders taking up Sala trees and boulders uttered these words.

Characters & Entities

• Sugrīva
• Vānara leaders (vānarottamāḥ)
• sāla trees (sālāḥ)

FAQs

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

Dharma appears as faithful service to a righteous cause: the Vānaras respond to their leader’s call with readiness to protect and support Rāma’s just mission.

What is the narrative situation?

After hearing Sugrīva’s command/exhortation, the Vānara chiefs prepare for action—armed with improvised weapons (trees and rocks)—and answer him.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Collective courage and disciplined loyalty: coordinated readiness to act for dharma rather than hesitation or fear.