Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 18, Shloka 24

शरणागति

धर्मनिर्णयः (Decision on Refuge and Dharma) / Rama’s Vow of Protection and the Acceptance of Vibhishana

Devanagari script

सहितंप्रतिजग्राहभार्याहर्तारमागतः ।कपोतोवानरश्रेष्ठ: किंपुनर्मद्विधोजनः ।।।।

Transliteration

sahitaṃ pratijagrāha bhāryā-hartāram āgataḥ | kapoto vānaraśreṣṭhaḥ kiṃ punar mad-vidho janaḥ || 6.18.24 ||

Translation

वानरश्रेष्ठ! कपोतोऽपि भार्याहर्तारं समीपमागतं सहितं प्रतिजग्राह; किं पुनर्मद्विधो जनः।

Word by Word

• सहितम्: together (with her)
• सहितम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सहित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; तम् (implicit) इत्यस्य विशेषणम्: "together/along with (his wife)"

• प्रतिजग्राह: accepted, received
• प्रतिजग्राह: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति-ग्रह् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन, परस्मैपद; उपसर्गः: प्रति-; अर्थः: "received/accepted"

• भार्याहर्तारम्: the abductor of (his) wife
• भार्याहर्तारम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भार्या-हर्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: भार्यायाः हर्ता (abductor of (his) wife)

• आगतः: who had come
• आगतः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; अर्थः: "having come" (qualifying the abductor)

• कपोतः: the dove
• कपोतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कपोत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• वानरश्रेष्ठ: O best of Vanaras
• वानरश्रेष्ठ: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वानर-श्रेष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: वानराणां श्रेष्ठः (best among Vanaras)

• किम्: what?
• किम्: Prashna (प्रश्न)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रश्नार्थक अव्यय (interrogative)

• पुनः: more, rather
• पुनः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, पुनरुक्ति/अधिक्यार्थक (more/again; here: "how much more")

• मद्विधः: like me
• मद्विधः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मद्-विध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः: मादृशः/मद्विधः (like me)

• जनः: a person
• जनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Context

"O Supreme Vanara When the fowler who had carried away the mate came near the dove it received him and in turn protected him. What more can a man like me do?"

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Sugrīva

FAQs

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

If even a small creature upholds refuge-protection toward a grievous offender, a righteous human ruler must uphold it all the more.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma strengthens his argument by extending the dove example: protection is owed even to one who has caused personal loss.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Magnanimity—placing dharma above personal grievance.