Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 18, Shloka 35

शरणागति

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

Devanagari script

किमत्रचित्रंधर्मज्ञ: लोकनाथ: सुखावहा: ।यत्त्वमार्यंप्रभाषेथास्सत्त्ववान् सत्पथेस्थितः ।।।।

Transliteration

kim atra citraṃ dharmajña lokanātha sukhāvaha |

yat tvam āryaṃ prabhāṣethāḥ sattvavān satpathe sthitaḥ ||

Translation

Có gì lạ đâu, hỡi bậc thông đạt dharma, đấng chúa tể thế gian, bậc ban an lạc—khi Ngài, vững trụ chánh đạo và đầy đủ đức hạnh, nói ra những lời cao quý như thế?

Word by Word

• kim: what
• kim: Prashna (प्रश्न/Interrogative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; interrogative

• atra: here/in this
• atra: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atra (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक

• citram: wonder/strange thing
• citram: Visheshya (विशेष्य/Predicate)
• Type: Noun
• Root: citra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; predicate noun ‘wonder’

• dharmajña: O knower of dharma
• dharmajña: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma-jña (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: तत्पुरुष (धर्मं जानाति); पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

• lokanātha: O lord of the world
• lokanātha: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: loka-nātha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: तत्पुरुष (लोकस्य नाथः); पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• sukhāvaha: O bringer of happiness
• sukhāvaha: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sukha-āvaha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: तत्पुरुष (सुखम् आवहति); पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• yat: since/that
• yat: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Relative marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् प्रयोग (relative particle introducing clause)

• tvam: you
• tvam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• āryam: noble (words)/what is noble
• āryam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ārya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; object of ‘प्रभाषेथाः’

• prabhāṣethāḥ: should speak / speak
• prabhāṣethāḥ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√bhāṣ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• sattvavān: virtuous/courageous
• sattvavān: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sattva-vat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: बहुव्रीहि (सत्त्वं यस्य सः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण of ‘त्वम्’

• satpathe: on the right path
• satpathe: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sat-patha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: कर्मधारय (सत् पन्थाः); पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• sthitaḥ: standing/established
• sthitaḥ: Karta (कर्ता; predicate to ‘त्वम्’)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sthā (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय, past passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘standing/established’

Context

"What wonderful words have been spoken by you, Rama? You are the knower of righteous duty, protector of the world, a virtuous and upright one."

Characters & Entities

• Sugrīva
• Rāma

FAQs

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

True dharma naturally manifests as noble speech and protective intent; virtue makes righteousness unsurprising.

What is the narrative situation?

Sugrīva endorses Rāma’s vow of refuge by praising his consistent righteousness.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s moral steadiness (satpatha-sthitatva) and Sugrīva’s discerning loyalty.