Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 28, Shloka 26

शुकवाक्यं (Śuka’s Report on the Vānara Host) / Śuka Describes the Allied Forces to Rāvaṇa

Devanagari script

यस्तुसव्यमसौपक्षंरामस्याश्रित्यतिष्ठति ।रक्षोगणपरिक्षिप्तोराजाह्येषविभीषणः ।।6.28.26।।

Transliteration

yas tu savyam asau pakṣaṃ rāmasyāśritya tiṣṭhati |

rakṣogaṇaparikṣipto rājā hy eṣa vibhīṣaṇaḥ ||6.28.26||

Translation

जो रामांचा आश्रय घेऊन त्यांच्या डाव्या बाजूस उभा आहे, राक्षसगणांनी वेढलेला—तोच राजा विभीषण आहे।

Word by Word

• yaḥ: who
• yaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सम्बन्धक (relative pronoun)

• tu: but
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/अन्वयार्थक (but/indeed)

• savyam: left
• savyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: savya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying pakṣam)

• asau: that one (he)
• asau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: adas (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; निर्देशार्थ (that one)

• pakṣam: side
• pakṣam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pakṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• rāmasya: of Rama
• rāmasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• āśritya: having resorted to
• āśritya: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā+śri (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययभाव (Gerund/Absolutive); पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having taken refuge)

• tiṣṭhati: stands
• tiṣṭhati: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sthā (धातु)
• Form: लट्, परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• rakṣo-gaṇa-parikṣiptaḥ: surrounded by a host of rākṣasas
• rakṣo-gaṇa-parikṣiptaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rakṣas (प्रातिपदिक) + gaṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + pari+ kṣip (धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle) परिक्षिप्त = surrounded; विशेषण (qualifying rājā/eṣa)

• rājā: king
• rājā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात/अव्यय; अवधानार्थ (indeed)

• eṣaḥ: this (man)
• eṣaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• vibhīṣaṇaḥ: Vibhīṣaṇa
• vibhīṣaṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vibhīṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Context

"He is a prosperous king of the kings of Lanka. He has been consecrated by Rama, filled with anger he is advancing to wage war with you."

Characters & Entities

• Angada
• Rāvaṇa
• Rāma
• Vibhīṣaṇa
• Rākṣasa

FAQs

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

Śaraṇāgati (seeking refuge in righteousness): Vibhīṣaṇa’s choice shows that allegiance to dharma overrides loyalty to an adharmic regime.

What is the narrative situation?

Angada identifies Vibhīṣaṇa to Rāvaṇa, emphasizing that he has joined Rama after taking refuge.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Moral courage and truthfulness—Vibhīṣaṇa’s willingness to stand for dharma even against his own kin.