Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 18, Shloka 20

शरणागति

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

Devanagari script

सुग्रीवस्यतुतद्वाक्यंरामश्रुत्वाविमृश्यच ।ततश्शुभतरंवाक्यमुवाचहरिपुङ्गवम् ।।।।

Transliteration

sugrīvasya tu tad vākyaṃ rāmaḥ śrutvā vimṛśya ca | tataḥ śubhataraṃ vākyam uvāca haripuṅgavam || 6.18.20 ||

Translation

Nang marinig ni Rāma ang mga salita ni Sugrīva at pagnilayan iyon, saka niya kinausap ang pinakadakila sa mga pinunong Vānara ng mga salitang higit pang mapalad at nararapat.

Word by Word

• सुग्रीवस्य: of Sugriva
• सुग्रीवस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुग्रीव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular)

• तु: but, indeed
• तु: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), अवधान/विरोधसूचक निपात (particle: but/indeed)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); सर्वनाम (pronoun) विशेषणम्

• वाक्यम्: speech, words
• वाक्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• रामः: Rama
• रामः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive), पूर्वकाल: "having heard"

• विमृश्य: having considered
• विमृश्य: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-मृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive), पूर्वकाल: "having reflected/considered"; उपसर्गः: वि-

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• ततः: then
• ततः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (then)

• शुभतरम्: more auspicious/better
• शुभतरम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ-तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); तरप्-प्रत्यय (comparative)

• वाक्यम्: words
• वाक्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• उवाच: said, spoke
• उवाच: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• हरिपुङ्गवम्: the leader of the Vanaras (Sugriva)
• हरिपुङ्गवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि-पुङ्गव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: हरीणां पुङ्गवः (bull/leader among monkeys)

Context

Having heard the words of the leader of Vanaras that were nobler, Rama spoke these auspicious words.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Sugrīva

FAQs

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

Dharma begins with thoughtful discernment: Rāma listens, reflects (vimṛśya), and then speaks—modeling responsible, measured leadership.

What is the narrative situation?

After hearing Sugrīva’s counsel in the war context, the narration signals that Rāma is about to respond with a more elevating, dharmic statement.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s prudence and self-restraint—he does not react impulsively but replies after reflection.