वाल्मीकि-रामायणम् vālmīki-rāmāyaṇam - book-6, chapter-16, verse-23

विभीषणगृहीतौ तु वधार्हौ राक्षसेश्वर ।
दृष्ट्वा धर्मात्मना मुक्तौ रामेणामिततेजसा ॥२३॥

23. vibhīṣaṇagṛhītau tu vadhārhau rākṣaseśvara ,
dṛṣṭvā dharmātmanā muktau rāmeṇāmitatejasā.

23. vibhīṣaṇagṛhītau tu vadhārhau rākṣaseśvara
dṛṣṭvā dharmātmanā muktau rāmeṇa amitatejasā

23. But O lord of demons, though the two (spies) were seized by Vibhishana and deserved death, they were released by Rama, the righteous one (dharmātmanā) of immeasurable prowess, after he saw them.

Words meanings summery:

• विभीषणगृहीतौ (vibhīṣaṇagṛhītau) - seized by Vibhishana

• तु (tu) - but (but, indeed, yet)

• वधार्हौ (vadhārhau) - deserving death (deserving death, worthy of being killed)

• राक्षसेश्वर (rākṣaseśvara) - O lord of demons (O lord of demons, O chief of rākṣasas)

• दृष्ट्वा (dṛṣṭvā) - after seeing them (having seen, after seeing)

• धर्मात्मना (dharmātmanā) - by the righteous one (dharma) (by the righteous soul, by the one whose self is dharma)

• मुक्तौ (muktau) - released (released, freed)

• रामेण (rāmeṇa) - by Rama

• अमिततेजसा (amitatejasā) - of immeasurable prowess (of immeasurable splendor/prowess)

Words meanings and morphology

विभीषणगृहीतौ (vibhīṣaṇagṛhītau) - seized by Vibhishana

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, dual of vibhīṣaṇagṛhīta

vibhīṣaṇagṛhīta - captured by Vibhishana

Past Passive Participle

Compound 'Vibhīṣaṇa' (agent) + 'gṛhīta' (Past Passive Participle of √grah)

Compound type : tatpurusha (vibhīṣaṇa+gṛhīta)

• vibhīṣaṇa – Vibhishana (proper name)
  proper noun (masculine)
• gṛhīta – seized, caught, taken
  adjective (masculine)
  Past Passive Participle
  From √grah (to seize)
  Root: grah (class 9)

Note: Refers to the two spies Shuka and Sarana

तु (tu) - but (but, indeed, yet)

(indeclinable)

Note: Indicates contrast or emphasis

वधार्हौ (vadhārhau) - deserving death (deserving death, worthy of being killed)

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, dual of vadhārha

vadhārha - deserving death, worthy of being killed

Compound type : tatpurusha (vadha+arha)

• vadha – killing, slaughter, death
  noun (masculine)
• arha – deserving, worthy, fit
  adjective (masculine)

Note: Agrees with the implied spies

राक्षसेश्वर (rākṣaseśvara) - O lord of demons (O lord of demons, O chief of rākṣasas)

(noun)

Vocative, masculine, singular of rākṣaseśvara

rākṣaseśvara - lord of demons, chief of rākṣasas

Compound type : tatpurusha (rākṣasa+īśvara)

• rākṣasa – demon, rākṣasa
  noun (masculine)
• īśvara – lord, master, ruler
  noun (masculine)

Note: Addressing Ravana

दृष्ट्वा (dṛṣṭvā) - after seeing them (having seen, after seeing)

(indeclinable)

Gerund/Absolutive

root 'dṛś' + tvā

Root: dṛś (class 1)

Note: Action performed by Rama before releasing

धर्मात्मना (dharmātmanā) - by the righteous one (dharma) (by the righteous soul, by the one whose self is dharma)

(adjective)

Instrumental, masculine, singular of dharmātman

dharmātman - one whose nature is righteousness, righteous-souled

Compound type : bahuvrihi (dharma+ātman)

• dharma – righteousness, law, natural law, intrinsic nature
  noun (masculine)
• ātman – self, soul, spirit, essence
  noun (masculine)

Note: Qualifies Rāmeṇa

मुक्तौ (muktau) - released (released, freed)

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, dual of mukta

mukta - released, freed, liberated

Past Passive Participle

From √muc (to release)

Root: muc (class 6)

Note: Agrees with the implied spies; predicate adjective

रामेण (rāmeṇa) - by Rama

(proper noun)

Instrumental, masculine, singular of rāma

rāma - Rama (name of a prominent deity in Hinduism, hero of the Ramayana)

Note: Agent of the action of releasing

अमिततेजसा (amitatejasā) - of immeasurable prowess (of immeasurable splendor/prowess)

(adjective)

Instrumental, masculine, singular of amitatejas

amitatejas - of infinite might, of immeasurable energy/splendor

Compound type : bahuvrihi (amita+tejas)

• amita – immeasurable, infinite, boundless
  adjective (masculine)
  Past Passive Participle of √mā with 'a' (negation)
  a (neg) + mita (PPP of √mā)
  Prefix: a
  Root: mā (class 2)
• tejas – splendor, energy, prowess, power
  noun (neuter)

Note: Qualifies Rāmeṇa