Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 18, Shloka 10

शरणागति

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

Devanagari script

अमित्रास्तत्कुलीनाश्चप्रातिदेश्याश्चकीर्तिताः ।व्यसनेषुप्रहर्तारस्तस्मादयमिहागतः ।।।।

Transliteration

amitrās tatkulīnāś ca prātidēśyāś ca kīrtitāḥ | vyasaneṣu prahartāras tasmād ayam ihāgataḥ ||

Translation

Ngay cả kẻ cùng tông tộc, và các vua ở cõi lân bang, cũng bị gọi là thù địch; vì khi gặp hoạn nạn, họ liền ra tay đánh. Bởi lẽ ấy, nên người này đã đến đây.

Word by Word

• अमित्राः: enemies, unfriendly ones
• अमित्राः: Karta (कर्ता) (of implied action/characterization)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अमित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), बहुवचन

• तत्कुलीनाः: those of the same clan
• तत्कुलीनाः: Karta (कर्ता) (coordinated list)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत् + कुलीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; समास: तत्-कुलीन (of that clan/same clan)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (and)

• प्रातिदेश्याः: neighboring (kings/people) of adjacent regions
• प्रातिदेश्याः: Karta (कर्ता) (coordinated list)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रातिदेश्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (and)

• कीर्तिताः: are mentioned/are described
• कीर्तिताः: Kriya (क्रिया) (predicate participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कीर्तय् (धातु) → कीर्तित (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्मणि-भाव (are said/are mentioned)

• व्यसनेषु: in calamities/difficulties
• व्यसनेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण) (in times of)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यसन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative), बहुवचन

• प्रहर्तारः: attackers
• प्रहर्तारः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्र-हृ (धातु) → प्रहर्तृ (प्रातिपदिक/कर्तृ-नाम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्तृवाचक (agent noun: attackers)

• तस्मात्: therefore
• तस्मात्: Hetu (हेतु) (cause)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तस्मात् इति हेत्वर्थे अव्ययीभाववत् (ablative used adverbially: therefore/from that reason)

• अयम्: this (man), he
• अयम्: Karta (कर्ता) with "आगतः"
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• इह: here
• इह: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक (here)

• आगतः: has come
• आगतः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-गम् (धातु) → आगत (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Context

"When in difficulty kings of the same clan of adjoining countries keep attacking the renowned and so they are declared as enemies. It is on account of this cause he (Vibheeshana) has come here."

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Vibhīṣaṇa

FAQs

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

Rāja-dharma requires vigilance: even close relations and neighbors may become hostile in crisis; ethical governance weighs intentions, incentives, and timing while still remaining anchored in righteousness.

What is the narrative situation?

A strategic-ethical assessment is being voiced about why a person (contextually, Vibhīṣaṇa) has come—suggesting motives can be shaped by political pressure and danger.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Prudence and discernment (viveka) in counsel—balancing compassion with security and truth-testing.