Shloka 17

इन्द्रजित्-लक्ष्मणयुद्धम् तथा वानरप्रोत्साहनम्

Indrajit–Lakshmana Battle and the Rallying of the Vanaras

Devanagari script

अयुक्तंनिधनंकर्तुंपुत्रस्यजनितुर्मम ।घृणामपास्यरामार्थेनिहन्यांभ्रातुरात्मजम् ।।।।

Transliteration

ayuktaṃ nidhanaṃ kartuṃ putrasya janitur mama |

ghṛṇām apāsya rāmārthe nihanyāṃ bhrātur ātmajam ||

Translation

എനിക്ക്, പിതാവുപോലെയുള്ളവനായി, പുത്രസമാനനായ ഒരാളുടെ മരണം വരുത്തുന്നത് യുക്തമല്ല. എങ്കിലും രാമന്റെ കാര്യം നിമിത്തം കരുണ ഉപേക്ഷിച്ച്, ഞാൻ എന്റെ സഹോദരന്റെ പുത്രനെയും വധിക്കും.

Word by Word

• अयुक्तम्: improper
• अयुक्तम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-yukta (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्ताधारित)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन; ‘improper/unfit’ (negated)

• निधनम्: killing; death
• निधनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nidhana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन

• कर्तुम्: to do
• कर्तुम्: Prayojana/Anukriya (अनन्तर-क्रिया/उद्देश्य)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु) + tumun (कृत्)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त infinitive (कर्तुम्)

• पुत्रस्य: of (my) son
• पुत्रस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: putra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी एकवचन

• जनितुः: of the father
• जनितुः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: janitṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी एकवचन

• मम: my
• मम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी एकवचन

• घृणाम्: pity/compassion
• घृणाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ghṛṇā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन

• अपास्य: having cast aside
• अपास्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: apa-ās (धातु) + ya (ल्यप्)
• Form: ल्यप्-कृदन्त (absolutive/gerund): ‘having cast aside’

• रामार्थे: for Rama’s sake
• रामार्थे: Nimitta/Hetu (निमित्त/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (रामस्य अर्थः), पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी एकवचन; purpose-locative ‘for Rama’s sake’

• निहन्याम्: I should kill
• निहन्याम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-han (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद; ‘I should kill’

• भ्रातुः: of (my) brother
• भ्रातुः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhrātṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी एकवचन

• आत्मजम्: son
• आत्मजम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātmaja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन

Context

"For the sake of Rama, I will strike my brother's son. Being a father, taking pity, I am helpless as it is not proper for me to take the life of my son."

Characters & Entities

• Vibhīṣaṇa
• Rāma
• Indrajit (implied as brother’s son)
• Rāvaṇa (implied as brother of Vibhīṣaṇa)

FAQs

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

Dharma can demand painful choices: when kinship conflicts with righteousness, one must uphold the just cause (Rama’s dharma) even at personal emotional cost.

What is the narrative situation?

Vibhīṣaṇa reflects on the impropriety, for a fatherly figure, of killing a nephew who is dear like a son—yet he acknowledges the necessity within the war for Rama’s mission.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Moral clarity and sacrifice—choosing the side of truth and justice over family attachment.