Shloka 21

शरणागति

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

Devanagari script

सुदुष्टोवाप्यदुष्टोवाकिमेषरजनीचरः ।सूक्ष्ममप्यहितंकर्तुंममाशक्तःकथञ्चन ।।।।

Transliteration

suduṣṭo vāpy aduṣṭo vā kim eṣa rajanīcaraḥ | sūkṣmam apy ahitaṃ kartuṃ mamāśaktaḥ kathañcana || 6.18.21 ||

Translation

ദുഷ്ടനായാലും അദുഷ്ടനായാലും—ഈ രാത്രിചരൻ എനിക്ക് എന്ത് ചെയ്യാൻ കഴിയും? എനിക്ക് സൂക്ഷ്മമായ ഹാനി പോലും ഒരിക്കലും ചെയ്യാൻ അവനാൽ കഴിയില്ല.

Word by Word

• सुदुष्टः: very wicked
• सुदुष्टः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु-दुष्ट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः: सु + दुष्टः (very wicked)

• वा: or
• वा: Samuccaya/Vikalpa (विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, विकल्पार्थक निपात (disjunctive particle: or)

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha-bodhaka (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, सम्भावना/समुच्चयार्थक (particle: even/also)

• अदुष्टः: not wicked
• अदुष्टः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-दुष्ट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नञ्-समास/नकार-प्रत्ययार्थ (not wicked)

• वा: or
• वा: Vikalpa (विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, विकल्पार्थक (or)

• किम्: what?
• किम्: Prashna (प्रश्न)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रश्नार्थक अव्यय (interrogative particle)

• एषः: this (one)
• एषः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम (this)

• रजनीचरः: night-ranger (Rakshasa)
• रजनीचरः: Apposition/Viśeṣya (विशेष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रजनी-चर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सप्तमी-तत्पुरुषः: रजन्यां चरति (one who moves at night)

• सूक्ष्मम्: subtle, slightest
• सूक्ष्मम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सूक्ष्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; अहितम् इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha-bodhaka (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयार्थक (even)

• अहितम्: harm
• अहितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• कर्तुम्: to do
• कर्तुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/तुमर्थ)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (infinitive), प्रयोजनार्थ (purpose): "to do"

• मम: to me / of me
• मम: Sampradana/Adhikarana (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• अशक्तः: incapable
• अशक्तः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-शक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नञ्-प्रत्ययार्थ (incapable)

• कथञ्चन: in any way at all
• कथञ्चन: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कथञ्चन (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, नकारार्थे/कदाचित्-निषेधार्थे (in any way/at all; with negation implied by context)

Context

"Whether this night ranger is wicked or not wicked, is he capable of doing even subtlest harm to me?"

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Sugrīva
• rajanīcara (rākṣasa/night-roamer)

FAQs

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

Dharma is not driven by fear: Rāma frames the issue beyond personal threat, preparing the ground for a principled stance rather than a fearful reaction.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma responds to concerns about a rākṣasa, asserting that the figure is no real danger to him.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Courage and inner steadiness—Rāma shows that his decisions are not dictated by personal insecurity.