Shloka 24
विभीषणोपदेशः
Vibhishana’s Counsel to Ravana and the Catalogue of Omens
अयंहिदोषस्सर्वस्यजनस्यास्योपलक्ष्यते ।रक्षसांराक्षसीनांचपुरस्यान्तःपुरस्यच ।।।।
ayaṁ hi doṣaḥ sarvasya janasyāsyopalakṣyate |
rakṣasāṁ rākṣasīnām ca purasyāntaḥpurasya ca ||
Denn dieses Vergehen ist hier allen bekannt: den Rākṣasas und den Rākṣasī-Frauen, der ganzen Stadt und sogar denen in den inneren Gemächern.
All your ministers have abstained from telling you out of fear of you. I must necessarily tell you (as brother) this which is seen and heard. You may determine that which is justifiable by determining the propriety. It is proper for me to submit to you.
FAQs
Adharma is not private: wrongdoing becomes socially visible and erodes legitimacy; dharma requires accountability before one’s own people.
Vibhīṣaṇa stresses that Rāvaṇa’s offense is widely known, increasing shame and political danger.
Truthfulness and frankness—naming the reality that others fear to state.