Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 18, Shloka 7

शरणागति

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

Devanagari script

वानराधिपतेर्वाक्यंश्रुत्वासर्वानुदीक्ष्यच ।।6.18.6।।ईषदुत्स्मयमानस्तुलक्ष्मणंपुण्यलक्षणम् ।इतिहोवाचकाकुत्स्थोवाक्यंसत्यपराक्रमः ।।6.18.7।।

Transliteration

vānarādhipater vākyaṃ śrutvā sarvān udīkṣya ca | īṣad utsmayamānas tu lakṣmaṇaṃ puṇyalakṣaṇam | iti hovāca kākutstho vākyaṃ satyaparākramaḥ ||

Translation

Nghe lời của chúa tể Vānara, Rāma thuộc dòng Kakutstha—bậc dũng mãnh lấy chân thật làm nền—đưa mắt nhìn khắp mọi người, khẽ mỉm cười về phía Lakṣmaṇa tướng mạo cát tường, rồi cất lời.

Word by Word

• anadhītya: without studying
• anadhītya: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषणम्)
• Type: Verb
• Root: adhi + i (इ धातु) with negation an- (अन्-)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यप्), negative: ‘without studying’

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, conjunction

• śāstrāṇi: treatises/scriptures
• śāstrāṇi: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śāstra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Plural

• vṛddhān: elders
• vṛddhān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vṛddha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural; ‘elders’

• anupasevya: without serving
• anupasevya: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषणम्)
• Type: Verb
• Root: anu + upa + sev (सेव् धातु) with negation an- (अन्-)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यप्), negative: ‘without serving/attending’

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, conjunction

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, negation

• śakyam: possible
• śakyam: Pradhana-visheshana (प्रधान-विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śakya (प्रातिपदिक; शक्-योग्य)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular; predicate adjective (impersonal construction)

• īdṛśam: such (a thing)
• īdṛśam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: īdṛśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular; object of ‘vaktum’

• vaktum: to speak
• vaktum: Prayojana (प्रयोजनम्)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (वच् धातु)
• Form: Infinitive (तुमुन्), ‘to speak’

• yat: which/that which
• yat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (यद् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular; relative pronoun referring to ‘īdṛśam’

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (वच् धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person, Singular

• harīśvaraḥ: lord of the monkeys (Sugriva)
• harīśvaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hari (प्रातिपदिक) + īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: ‘harīṇām īśvaraḥ’); Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Context

On hearing the words of the king of Vanaras, Rama of Kakuthsa dynasty and of truthful valour looked at all and threw a smile slightly at meritorious Lakshmana and spoke these words.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma (Kākutstha)
• Lakṣmaṇa
• Sugrīva (Vānarādhipati, implied by context)

FAQs

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

Dharma is deliberative restraint: before deciding on refuge and war-policy, Rāma surveys the assembly and responds without haste, grounded in satya (truth).

What is the narrative situation?

After Sugrīva’s skeptical counsel, Rāma prepares to answer, signaling measured confidence and clarity.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s satya-based steadiness and calm leadership, and his tacit rapport with Lakṣmaṇa.