Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 19, Shloka 36

विभीषणाभिषेकः

The Consecration of Vibhishana and Counsel on Crossing the Ocean

Devanagari script

विभीषणस्यमन्त्रोऽयंममलक्ष्मण रोचते ।सुग्रीवःपण्डितोनित्यंभवान्मन्त्रविचक्षणः ।।6.19.36।।उभाभ्यांसम्प्रधार्यार्थंरोचतेयत्तदुच्यताम् ।

Transliteration

vibhīṣaṇasya mantro 'yaṃ mama lakṣmaṇa rocate | sugrīvaḥ paṇḍito nityaṃ bhavān mantravicakṣaṇaḥ ||6.19.36|| ubhābhyāṃ sampradhāryārthaṃ rocate yat tad ucyatām |

Translation

“罗什曼那（Lakṣmaṇa），毗毗沙那（Vibhīṣaṇa）的这番谋议令我欢喜。苏格利婆（Sugrīva）恒常博学，而你善于参谋。你们二人细加权衡真正有益之事后，把你们所认可的告诉我。”

Word by Word

• evam: thus
• evam: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; manner-adverb

• uktau: having been spoken to
• uktau: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √vac (धातु) > ukta (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP/क्त), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन; ‘having been addressed/said to’

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; temporal adverb

• vīrau: the two heroes
• vīrau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vīra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन

• ubhau: both
• ubhau: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ubha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन; adjective to vīrau

• sugrīva-lakṣmaṇau: Sugriva and Lakshmana
• sugrīva-lakṣmaṇau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sugrīva (प्रातिपदिक) + lakṣmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन; द्वन्द्वः (itaretara)

• samudācāra-saṃyuktam: joined with proper decorum
• samudācāra-saṃyuktam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: samudācāra (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃyukta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः ‘समुदाचारेण संयुक्तम्’; adjective to vacanam

• idam: this
• idam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; demonstrative

• vacanam: speech/words
• vacanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• ūcatuḥ: they two said
• ūcatuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), द्विवचन

Context

"Lakshmana! This advice of Vibheeshana is pleasing to me. Sugriva is learned, and you are always capable of good advice. That which appeals to both of you, and which is meaningful may be informed to me."

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa
• Sugrīva
• Vibhīṣaṇa

FAQs

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

Dharma requires deliberation (mantra) before action: even a righteous goal should be pursued through thoughtful, truthful, and collectively tested counsel.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma evaluates Vibhīṣaṇa’s proposal and asks Lakṣmaṇa and Sugrīva to jointly assess and confirm the best course.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s humility and consultative leadership—he values competence and reasoned agreement over unilateral decision-making.