Valmiki Ramayana 6.17.71 — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 17, Shloka 71

विभीषणागमनम्

Vibhīṣaṇa’s Arrival and the Debate on Refuge

Devanagari script

इत्युक्त्वापरुषंवाक्यंरावणंरावणानुजः ।आजगाममुहूर्तेनयत्ररामस्सलक्ष्मणः ।।6.17.1।।

Transliteration

ityuktvā paruṣaṃ vākyaṃ rāvaṇaṃ rāvaṇānujaḥ | ājagāma muhūrtena yatra rāmaḥ salakṣmaṇaḥ ||

Translation

Nói xong những lời khắc nghiệt ấy với Ravana, em của Ravana [Vibhishana] liền trong khoảnh khắc đến nơi Rama đang trú ngụ, có Lakshmana tháp tùng.

Word by Word

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उद्धरण-सूचकं (quotative particle: "thus")

• उक्त्वा: having said
• उक्त्वा: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (absolutive/gerund); पूर्वकाल (having said)

• परुषम्: harsh
• परुषम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (Neuter, Accusative, Singular)

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

• रावणम्: Ravana (to Ravana)
• रावणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रावण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (Masculine, Accusative, Singular)

• रावणानुजः: Ravana's younger brother
• रावणानुजः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रावण (प्रातिपदिक) + अनुज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (Masculine, Nominative, Singular)

• आजगाम: came/reached
• आजगाम: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्, परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन (Perfect; 3rd singular); आ- उपसर्ग

• मुहूर्तेन: in a short while
• मुहूर्तेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुहूर्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन (Masculine, Instrumental, Singular); काल-निर्देशे

• यत्र: where
• यत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; सम्बन्ध-देशवाचक (relative adverb: where)

• रामः: Rama
• रामः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (Masculine, Nominative, Singular)

• सलक्ष्मणः: with Lakshmana
• सलक्ष्मणः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (अव्यय-उपपद) + लक्ष्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समासः; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; रामस्य विशेषणम्

Context

Vibheeshana, having addressed Ravana in harsh language, reached Rama and Lakshmana in a short while.

Characters & Entities

• Ravana
• Vibhishana
• Rama
• Lakshmana

FAQs

What is the significance of Vibhishana speaking 'harsh words' (paruṣaṃ vākyaṃ) to Ravana?

It signifies the final rupture of their relationship. Vibhishana, having exhausted all diplomatic attempts to advise Ravana to follow Dharma, spoke the bitter truth which Ravana perceived as harsh, prompting Vibhishana to leave the side of Adharma.

Why is this moment critical in the context of Dharma?

This verse marks the transition where a devotee abandons blood relations to uphold righteousness (Dharma), demonstrating that allegiance to truth supersedes familial loyalty when the family is committed to evil.