Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 19, Shloka 21

विभीषणाभिषेकः

The Consecration of Vibhishana and Counsel on Crossing the Ocean

Devanagari script

अहत्वारावणंसङ् ख्येसपुत्रजनबान्धवम् ।अयोध्यांनप्रवेक्ष्यामित्रिभिस्तैर्भ्रातृभिश्शपे ।।6.19.21।।

Transliteration

ahatvā rāvaṇaṃ saṅkhye sa-putra-jana-bāndhavam | ayodhyāṃ na pravekṣyāmi tribhis tair bhrātṛbhiḥ śape || 6.19.21 ||

Translation

若不在战场上诛杀罗波那，并连同其子嗣、随从与亲族一并歼灭，我决不踏入阿踰陀（Ayodhyā）——我以我三位兄弟起誓。

Word by Word

• अहत्वा: without killing
• अहत्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषणम्)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund, क्त्वा), उपसर्ग: अ- (negation), अर्थ: ‘न हत्वा’ = ‘without killing’

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

• सङ्ख्ये: in battle
• सङ्ख्ये: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सङ्ख्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन; अर्थे ‘युद्धे’

• सपुत्रजनबान्धवम्: together with sons, people, and kinsmen
• सपुत्रजनबान्धवम्: Karma-anvaya (कर्मणि विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक) + जन (प्रातिपदिक) + बान्धव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (सह-पूर्वपद; ‘पुत्रैः जनैः बान्धवैः सह’), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; रावणम् इति विशेषणम्

• अयोध्याम्: to Ayodhya
• अयोध्याम्: Gati/Karma (गतिकर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अयोध्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/गति-कर्म), एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle/निषेध)

• प्रवेक्ष्यामि: I will enter
• प्रवेक्ष्यामि: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + विश् (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future/भविष्यत्), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• त्रिभिः: with three
• त्रिभिः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: त्रिलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental/करण), बहुवचन; ‘भ्रातृभिः’ इति विशेषणम्

• तैः: with those
• तैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; ‘भ्रातृभिः’ इति विशेषणम्

• भ्रातृभिः: with (my) brothers
• भ्रातृभिः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भ्रातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental/करण), बहुवचन

• शपे: I vow / swear
• शपे: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शप् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/वर्तमान), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; अर्थे ‘प्रतिजाने/शपथं करोमि’

Context

"I vow upon my three brothers that I will not enter Ayodhya without putting an end to Ravana along with his people, sons and relatives."

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Ayodhyā

FAQs

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

Maryādā and satya: a righteous person binds himself by a solemn vow and refuses personal comfort (return to Ayodhyā) until the duty of justice is completed.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma publicly commits that he will not return to Ayodhyā until Rāvaṇa and his supporting network are defeated in war.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Integrity and accountability—Rāma stakes his own return and invokes his brothers as witnesses to his unwavering commitment.