Shloka 11

शरणागति

धर्मनिर्णयः (Decision on Refuge and Dharma) / Rama’s Vow of Protection and the Acceptance of Vibhishana

Devanagari script

अपापास्तत्कुलीनाश्चमानयन्तिस्वकान्हितान् ।एषप्रायोनरेन्द्राणांशङ्कनीयस्तुशोभनः ।।।।

Transliteration

apāpās tatkulīnāś ca mānayanti svakān hitān | eṣa prāyo narendrāṇāṃ śaṅkanīyas tu śobhanaḥ ||

Translation

നിർദോഷരും അതേ വംശത്തിലെവരും തങ്ങളുടെ ഹിതൈഷികളെ ആദരിക്കുന്നു. എങ്കിലും രാജധർമ്മത്തിന്റെ വഴിയിൽ, മഹത്തായ ഒരാളും പലപ്പോഴും സംശയിക്കപ്പെടുന്നവനാകുന്നു.

Word by Word

• अपापाः: sinless (people)
• अपापाः: कर्तृ (Agent)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-पाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः बहुवचनम्; नञ्-समासः (अ + पाप) = 'पापरहिताः' (Masculine, Nominative, Plural)

• तत्कुलीनाः: of that (same) clan / well-born in that lineage
• तत्कुलीनाः: कर्तृ (Agent)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तत् + कुलीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः बहुवचनम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (तस्य कुलीनाः) (Masculine, Nominative, Plural)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्ययम् (conjunction)

• मानयन्ति: honour / respect
• मानयन्ति: क्रिया (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √मान् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकारः, परस्मैपदम्, प्रथम-पुरुषः, बहुवचनम् (Present Indicative, 3rd person plural)

• स्वकान्: their own
• स्वकान्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया-विभक्तिः बहुवचनम् (Masculine, Accusative, Plural)

• हितान्: well-wishers / friendly persons
• हितान्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया-विभक्तिः बहुवचनम्; 'हित' = प्रिय/उपकारी (Masculine, Accusative, Plural)

• एषः: this (one/this matter)
• एषः: कर्तृ/विषय (Subject/Topic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः एकवचनम्; सर्वनाम (Masculine, Nominative, Singular)

• प्रायः: generally / by and large
• प्रायः: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रायः (अव्यय/निपात)
• Form: अव्ययम्; अर्थः = 'बहुधा/सामान्यतः' (adverb)

• नरेन्द्राणाम्: of kings
• नरेन्द्राणाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर + इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे षष्ठी-विभक्तिः बहुवचनम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (नराणाम् इन्द्रः) (Masculine, Genitive, Plural)

• शङ्कनीयः: to be suspected / doubtful
• शङ्कनीयः: विधेय-विशेषण (Predicative qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √शङ्क् (धातु) + अनीय (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: अनीय-प्रत्ययान्तः कृतान्तः; पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः एकवचनम्; अर्थः = 'शङ्का-योग्यः/सन्देहनीयः' (Masculine, Nominative, Singular; gerundive)

• तु: but / indeed
• तु: सम्बन्ध/निपात (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; विरोध/विशेषार्थक-निपातः (particle: but/indeed)

• शोभनः: good / virtuous / auspicious
• शोभनः: विधेय (Predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शोभन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः एकवचनम् (Masculine, Nominative, Singular)

Context

"I will tell you what the scriptures have said about the demerit in accepting an enemy's strength that you have spoken. You may listen."

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• kings (narendra)

FAQs

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

Rāja-dharma balances goodwill with vigilance: even the virtuous may be suspected in political life, so discernment must accompany trust.

What is the narrative situation?

In deliberations about Vibhīṣaṇa’s approach, the discussion turns to how rulers typically weigh loyalty, kinship, and suspicion.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Prudence (viveka): the capacity to recognize political realities while still honoring genuine well-wishers.