Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 18, Shloka 31

शरणागति

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

Devanagari script

करिष्यामियथार्थंतुकण्डोर्वचनमुत्तमम् ।धर्मिष्ठंचयशस्यंचस्वर्ग्यंस्यात्तुफलोदये ।।।।

Transliteration

kariṣyāmi yathārthaṃ tu kaṇḍor vacanam uttamam |

dharmiṣṭhaṃ ca yaśasyaṃ ca svargyaṃ syāt tu phalodaye ||

Translation

Ta sẽ hành động đúng như lời cao quý và chân thật của Kandu; hạnh ấy chí thiện, đem lại danh tiếng, và đến kỳ quả báo sẽ lấy cõi trời làm phần thưởng.

Word by Word

• kariṣyāmi: I will do
• kariṣyāmi: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• yathārtham: properly/according to the meaning
• yathārtham: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā-artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: अव्ययीभाव (यथा + अर्थम्); अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण

• tu: indeed/but
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/अनुक्रम (particle: ‘but/indeed’)

• kaṇḍoḥ: of Kaṇḍu
• kaṇḍoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kaṇḍu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• vacanam: statement/word
• vacanam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• uttamam: excellent
• uttamam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: uttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण of ‘वचनम्’

• dharmiṣṭham: most righteous
• dharmiṣṭham: Visheshana (विशेषण/Predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dharmiṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; predicate adjective (result-quality)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• yaśasyam: fame-bringing
• yaśasyam: Visheshana (विशेषण/Predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yaśasya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; predicate adjective

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• svargyam: heaven-leading
• svargyam: Visheshana (विशेषण/Predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: svargya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; predicate adjective

• syāt: would be
• syāt: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• tu: indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधान/अनुक्रम (particle)

• phalodaye: at the fruition/result
• phalodaye: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: phala-udaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: तत्पुरुष (फलस्य उदयः); पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; ‘at the arising of the fruit/result’

Context

"Excellent and meaningful words have been said by sage Kandu (about one who protects a refugee), that is by doing one's righteous duty. He will be not only famous but reach heaven as a result of his action."

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Kandu (sage)
• svarga (heaven)

FAQs

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

Rāma grounds his decision in authoritative dharmic teaching: protecting a refugee is righteous, honor-giving, and spiritually fruitful.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma cites the sage Kandu’s teaching to reinforce the duty to protect Vibhīṣaṇa who has sought refuge.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Satya and dharma-niṣṭhā—Rāma’s resolve to align action with true, principled counsel.