Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 115, Shloka 4

विभीषणाभिषेकः (Vibhīṣaṇa’s Consecration) and Hanumān’s Commission to Sītā

Devanagari script

राघवस्तुरथंदिव्यमिन्द्रदत्तंशिखिप्रभम् ।।।।अनुज्ञायमहाभागोर्मातलिंप्रत्यपूजयत् ।

Transliteration

rāghavas tu rathaṃ divyam indradattaṃ śikhiprabham |

anujñāya mahābhāgo mātaliṃ pratyapūjayat ||6.115.4||

Translation

Bấy giờ Rāghava, bậc đại phúc đức, sau khi ban lời cho phép, kính tiễn Mātali và cung kính hoàn trả cỗ chiến xa thần diệu do Indra ban tặng, rực sáng như ngọn lửa.

Word by Word

• राघवः: Raghava (Rama)
• राघवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राघव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तु: indeed/and then
• तु: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (contrast/emphasis)

• रथम्: chariot
• रथम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• दिव्यम्: divine
• दिव्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (agreeing with रथम्)

• इन्द्र-दत्तम्: given by Indra
• इन्द्र-दत्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इन्द्र + दत्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः ‘इन्द्रेण दत्तम्’

• शिखि-प्रभम्: shining like a peacock
• शिखि-प्रभम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिखिन् + प्रभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः ‘शिखिनः प्रभा यस्य’ (peacock-like radiance)

• अनुज्ञाय: having taken leave
• अनुज्ञाय: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु-ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive), ‘having taken leave/after granting leave’ (context: bidding farewell)

• महाभागः: the illustrious one
• महाभागः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + भाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः ‘महान् भागः यस्य’

• मातलिम्: Matali
• मातलिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• प्रत्यपूजयत्: honoured/paid respects to
• प्रत्यपूजयत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति-पूज् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

Context

Bidding farewell to Matali joyously, honourable Raghava returned the aerial chariot bestowed to him by Indra.

Characters & Entities

• Rama (Raghava)
• Matali
• Indra
• divine chariot

FAQs

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

Dharma as gratitude and non-appropriation: Rama honors divine assistance without possessiveness, returning what was lent and showing respect to the giver’s envoy.

What is the narrative situation?

After the war, Rama takes leave of Matali and returns Indra’s celestial chariot.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rama’s integrity and humility—he treats power and gifts as responsibilities, not personal acquisitions.