Shloka 17

निकुम्भिला

यज्ञविघ्नः — Vibhishana’s Counsel and Lakshmana’s March to Nikumbhila

Devanagari script

विभीषणवच्श्रुत्वारामोवाक्यमथाब्रवीत् ।जानामितस्यरौद्रस्यमायांसत्यपराक्रमः ।।6.85.17।।

Transliteration

vibhīṣaṇa-vacaḥ śrutvā rāmo vākyam athābravīt | jānāmi tasya raudrasya māyāṃ satya-parākramaḥ ||6.85.17||

Translation

Tendo ouvido as palavras de Vibhīṣaṇa, Rāma então respondeu: «Conheço a māyā desse feroz», disse Rāma, cuja valentia se firma na verdade.

Word by Word

• vadhāya: for the killing
• vadhāya: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vadha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (m.), Caturthī (Dat. 4), Ekavacana; purpose (arthē caturthī)

• indrajitaḥ: of Indrajit
• indrajitaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: indrajit (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (m.), Ṣaṣṭhī (Gen. 6), Ekavacana

• rāma: O Rama
• rāma: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (m.), Sambodhana (Voc.), Ekavacana

• sandiśasva: command/order
• sandiśasva: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-diś (धातु)
• Form: Loṭ (imperative), Ātmanepada, Madhyama-puruṣa (2nd), Ekavacana

• mahābala: O mighty one
• mahābala: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā-bala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya compound: mahā + bala; Puṃliṅga (m.), Sambodhana (Voc.), Ekavacana

• hate: when slain
• hate: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: han (धातु) + kta (कृत्)
• Form: Kta-participle used locatively; Saptamī (Loc. 7), Ekavacana; masculine/neuter locative sense: 'when (he is) slain'

• tasmin: in/when that (one)
• tasmin: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (pronoun), Puṃliṅga (m./n.), Saptamī (Loc. 7), Ekavacana

• hatam: slain
• hatam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: han (धातु) + kta (कृत्)
• Form: Kta-participle (क्त), Puṃliṅga (m.), Dvitīyā (Acc. 2), Ekavacana; predicate with rāvaṇam

• viddhi: know (you should know)
• viddhi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vid (धातु)
• Form: Loṭ (imperative), Parasmaipada, Madhyama-puruṣa (2nd), Ekavacana

• rāvaṇam: Rāvaṇa
• rāvaṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāvaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (m.), Dvitīyā (Acc. 2), Ekavacana

• sa-suhṛjjanam: together with his friends and people
• sa-suhṛjjanam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sa + suhṛt-jana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Upapada/tatpuruṣa-like: sa (with) + suhṛt-jana (friends/kinsmen); Puṃliṅga (m.), Dvitīyā (Acc. 2), Ekavacana; qualifier of rāvaṇam

Context

"O mighty armed Rama! that enemy of yours, while you have not reached Nikumbhilam and not propitiated fire sacrifice, can cause your death. Such a boon was granted to him, the enemy of Indra by the Lord of all worlds."

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Vibhīṣaṇa
• Indrajit (implied by “that fierce one”)
• Māyā (illusion/war-stratagem)

FAQs

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

Truth-based strength (satya-parākrama) is presented as the righteous counter to deception (māyā); dharma faces illusion with steady awareness, not panic.

What is the narrative situation?

After receiving Vibhīṣaṇa’s warning and plan, Rāma affirms he understands the enemy’s deceptive tactics and is prepared.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Composure grounded in truth: Rāma’s confidence arises from clear knowledge and satya, not arrogance.