Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 18, Shloka 35

शरणागति

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

Devanagari script

किमत्रचित्रंधर्मज्ञ: लोकनाथ: सुखावहा: ।यत्त्वमार्यंप्रभाषेथास्सत्त्ववान् सत्पथेस्थितः ।।।।

Transliteration

kim atra citraṃ dharmajña lokanātha sukhāvaha |

yat tvam āryaṃ prabhāṣethāḥ sattvavān satpathe sthitaḥ ||

Translation

హే ధర్మజ్ఞా, లోకనాథా, సుఖావహా! ఇందులో ఆశ్చర్యమేముంది? నీవు సత్త్వవంతుడవు, సత్పథమున నిలిచినవాడవు; అందుకే ఇలాంటి ఆర్యవచనములు పలుకుతావు।

Word by Word

• kim: what
• kim: Prashna (प्रश्न/Interrogative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; interrogative

• atra: here/in this
• atra: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atra (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक

• citram: wonder/strange thing
• citram: Visheshya (विशेष्य/Predicate)
• Type: Noun
• Root: citra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; predicate noun ‘wonder’

• dharmajña: O knower of dharma
• dharmajña: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma-jña (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: तत्पुरुष (धर्मं जानाति); पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

• lokanātha: O lord of the world
• lokanātha: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: loka-nātha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: तत्पुरुष (लोकस्य नाथः); पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• sukhāvaha: O bringer of happiness
• sukhāvaha: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sukha-āvaha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: तत्पुरुष (सुखम् आवहति); पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• yat: since/that
• yat: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Relative marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् प्रयोग (relative particle introducing clause)

• tvam: you
• tvam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• āryam: noble (words)/what is noble
• āryam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ārya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; object of ‘प्रभाषेथाः’

• prabhāṣethāḥ: should speak / speak
• prabhāṣethāḥ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√bhāṣ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• sattvavān: virtuous/courageous
• sattvavān: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sattva-vat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: बहुव्रीहि (सत्त्वं यस्य सः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण of ‘त्वम्’

• satpathe: on the right path
• satpathe: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sat-patha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: कर्मधारय (सत् पन्थाः); पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• sthitaḥ: standing/established
• sthitaḥ: Karta (कर्ता; predicate to ‘त्वम्’)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sthā (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय, past passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘standing/established’

Context

"What wonderful words have been spoken by you, Rama? You are the knower of righteous duty, protector of the world, a virtuous and upright one."

Characters & Entities

• Sugrīva
• Rāma

FAQs

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

True dharma naturally manifests as noble speech and protective intent; virtue makes righteousness unsurprising.

What is the narrative situation?

Sugrīva endorses Rāma’s vow of refuge by praising his consistent righteousness.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s moral steadiness (satpatha-sthitatva) and Sugrīva’s discerning loyalty.