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

Bagi aku, yang seperti seorang bapa, tidaklah wajar menyebabkan kematian seseorang yang bagaikan anak. Namun demi tujuan Rama, dengan mengetepikan belas kasihan, aku akan membunuh anak saudara kandungku sendiri.

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.