Shloka 28

विभीषणागमनम्

Vibhīṣaṇa’s Arrival and the Debate on Refuge

Devanagari script

प्रविष्टश्शत्रुसैन्यंहिप्राप्तश्शत्रुरतर्कितः ।निहन्यादन्तरंलब्ध्वाउलूकवायसानिव ।।6.17.28।।

Transliteration

praviṣṭaḥ śatrusainyaṃ hi prāptaḥ śatrur atarkitaḥ | nihanyād antaraṃ labdhvā ulūkavāyasān iva || 6.17.28 ||

Translation

ਜੋ ਸ਼ਤਰੂ ਵੈਰੀ ਦੀ ਸੈਨਾ ਵਿੱਚ ਬਿਨਾ ਪਤਾ ਲੱਗੇ ਘੁੱਸ ਜਾਵੇ, ਉਹ ਮੌਕਾ ਮਿਲਦਿਆਂ ਹੀ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਨਾਸ ਕਰ ਸਕਦਾ ਹੈ—ਜਿਵੇਂ ਅੰਦਰ ਵੜਿਆ ਉੱਲੂ ਕਾਂਵਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਮਾਰ ਦਿੰਦਾ ਹੈ।

Word by Word

• प्रविष्टः: having entered
• प्रविष्टः: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र-विश् (धातु) > प्रविष्ट (कृदन्त, क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि/कर्तरि कृदन्त (Past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; शत्रुः इति विशेष्यस्य

• शत्रुसैन्यम्: the enemy army
• शत्रुसैन्यम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत्रु (प्रातिपदिक) + सैन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (Genitive tatpurusha: 'enemy's army'), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• हि: indeed
• हि: सम्बन्ध (Discourse particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अवधानार्थ/हेतौ (emphasis/indeed)

• प्राप्तः: having arrived
• प्राप्तः: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र-आप् (धातु) > प्राप्त (कृदन्त, क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि/कर्तरि कृदन्त (Past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; शत्रुः इति विशेष्यस्य

• शत्रुः: an enemy
• शत्रुः: कर्ता (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत्रु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अतर्कितः: unsuspected
• अतर्कितः: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-तर्कित (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: नञ्-समासपूर्वक क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (negated past participle: 'not suspected/unguessed'), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; शत्रुः इति विशेष्यस्य

• निहन्यात्: would kill
• निहन्यात्: क्रिया (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-हन् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• अन्तरम्: an opening, opportunity
• अन्तरम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• लब्ध्वा: having obtained
• लब्ध्वा: पूर्वकाल (Prior action/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लभ् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त (Absolutive/Gerund), पूर्वक्रिया (having obtained)

• उलूकवायसान्: owls and crows
• उलूकवायसान्: उपमान (Standard of comparison/उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उलूक (प्रातिपदिक) + वायस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (copulative), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• इव: like
• इव: उपमा (Comparison marker/उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमावाचक-अव्यय (comparative particle)

Context

"One who entered the enemy's camp and had access to come inside kills the enemies. It is like an owl killing many crows having entered the hole."

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Sugrīva
• Vibhīṣaṇa (implied as potential infiltrator)
• Rākṣasas (implied enemies)

FAQs

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

Dharma in warfare includes vigilance: protecting the righteous mission and one’s dependents requires guarding against hidden entry and internal sabotage.

What is the narrative situation?

An analogy is used to stress how dangerous an unnoticed infiltrator can be inside a camp.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Strategic awareness—recognizing that trust without verification can invite catastrophe.