Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 25, Shloka 28

शुकसारण-चारप्रवेशः

Suka and Sāraṇa’s Espionage and Release

Devanagari script

विभीषणगृहीतौतुवधार्तौराक्षसेश्वर: ।दृष्टवाधर्मात्मनामुक्तौरामेणामिततेजसा ।।।।

Transliteration

vibhīṣaṇagṛhītau tu vadhārthau rākṣaseśvaraḥ | dṛṣṭvā dharmātmanā muktau rāmeṇāmitatejasā ||

Translation

О владыка ракшасов, Вибхишана схватил нас, чтобы предать казни; но Рама — праведнодушный и сияющий неизмеримым величием — увидев нас, даровал нам свободу.

Word by Word

• eka-sthāna-gatāḥ: assembled in one place
• eka-sthāna-gatāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka + sthāna + gata (कृदन्त)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural; tatpuruṣa: 'ekasmin sthāne gatāḥ' = 'gone to one place/assembled'

• yatra: where
• yatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Relative adverb (देशवाचक-अव्यय)

• catvāraḥ: four
• catvāraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: catvāri (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Numeral; Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• puruṣa-ṛṣabhāḥ: bulls among men
• puruṣa-ṛṣabhāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puruṣa + ṛṣabha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural; tatpuruṣa: 'puruṣāṇām ṛṣabhāḥ'

• loka-pāla-samāḥ: equal to the guardians of the world
• loka-pāla-samāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: loka + pāla + sama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural; 'equal to the world-guardians'

• śūrāḥ: heroes
• śūrāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śūra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• kṛta-astrāḥ: weapon-trained/armed
• kṛta-astrāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛta + astra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural; tatpuruṣa: 'kṛtāni astrāṇi yaiḥ' = 'armed/trained in weapons'

• dṛḍha-vikramāḥ: of firm valor
• dṛḍha-vikramāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dṛḍha + vikrama (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural; karmadhāraya: 'dṛḍhaḥ vikramaḥ yeṣām' (strong valor)

• rāmaḥ: Rama
• rāmaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• dāśarathiḥ: son of Dasharatha
• dāśarathiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dāśarathi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; patronymic 'son of Daśaratha'

• śrīmān: illustrious
• śrīmān: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śrīmat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; qualifies rāmaḥ

• lakṣmaṇaḥ: Lakshmana
• lakṣmaṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lakṣmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• vibhīṣaṇaḥ: Vibhishana
• vibhīṣaṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vibhīṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• sugrīvaḥ: Sugriva
• sugrīvaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sugrīva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• mahā-tejāḥ: of great splendor
• mahā-tejāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā + tejas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; karmadhāraya: 'great splendor'

• mahendra-sama-vikramaḥ: equal to Indra in valor
• mahendra-sama-vikramaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahendra + sama + vikrama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; 'having valor equal to Mahendra (Indra)'

• ete: these
• ete: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Demonstrative pronoun; Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• śaktāḥ: capable
• śaktāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śakta (कृदन्त)
• Form: Past passive participle used adjectivally (क्त), Masculine, Nominative, Plural; 'able/capable'

• purīm: the city
• purīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: purī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• laṅkām: Lanka
• laṅkām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: laṅkā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular; apposition to purīm

• sa-prākārām: with ramparts
• sa-prākārām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (सह/स) + prākāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular; qualifies purīm/laṅkām

• sa-toraṇām: with gateways
• sa-toraṇām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (सह/स) + toraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular; qualifies purīm/laṅkām

• utpāṭya: having uprooted
• utpāṭya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ud-pāṭ (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्); 'having uprooted/torn out'

• saṅkramayitum: to overrun/cross into
• saṅkramayitum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-kram (धातु)
• Form: Infinitive (तुमुन्), 'to cross/overrun/assault' (context: to overrun after tearing down)

• sarve: all
• sarve: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural; qualifies vānarāḥ

• tiṣṭhantu: let (them) stand
• tiṣṭhantu: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sthā (धातु)
• Form: Imperative (लोट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन), Parasmaipada; 'let them stand/remain'

• vānarāḥ: the Vanaras
• vānarāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vānara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

Context

"Exuberant Rama and Lakshmana, highly brilliant Vibheeshana, and Sugriva who resembles Indra in his valour, are like rulers of the world and are heroic, wielders of weapons and bulls among men. If all four of them come together there in that manner, they will unearth the arch ways and even the city of Lanka. They are capable even if the Vanaras are kept away."

Characters & Entities

• Vibhīṣaṇa
• Rāma
• Rāvaṇa (rākṣaseśvara)
• Suka
• Sāraṇa

FAQs

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

Rāma’s dharma is restraint and fairness: even in war, he refuses needless killing and honors ethical conduct toward envoys and captives.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa’s agents are captured by Vibhīṣaṇa but are freed by Rāma, and they report this to Rāvaṇa.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s magnanimity and adherence to righteous warfare.