Shloka 26

विभीषणोपदेशः

Vibhishana’s Counsel to Ravana and the Catalogue of Omens

Devanagari script

इतिस्ममन्त्रिणांमध्येभ्राताभ्रातरमूचिवान् ।रावणंराक्षसांश्रेष्ठंपथ्यमेतद्विभीषणः ।।।।

Transliteration

iti sma mantriṇāṁ madhye bhrātā bhrātaram ūcivān |

rāvaṇaṁ rākṣasāṁ śreṣṭhaṁ pathyam etad vibhīṣaṇaḥ ||

Translation

So sprach Vibhīṣaṇa inmitten der Minister zu seinem Bruder Rāvaṇa, dem Vornehmsten unter den Rākṣasas, diesen heilsamen und zuträglichen Rat.

Word by Word

• हितम्: beneficial
• हितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; adjective to वाक्यम् (understood)

• महार्थम्: highly meaningful
• महार्थम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘of great meaning’

• मृदु: gentle
• मृदु: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mṛdu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘gentle’ (indeclinable-like stem used as adj.)

• हेतुसंहितम्: supported by reasons
• हेतुसंहितम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hetu + saṃhita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘endowed with reasons’

• व्यतीतकालायति: (fit for) past and future
• व्यतीतकालायति: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vyatīta-kāla + āyati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; द्वन्द्व: व्यतीतकाल (past) + आयति (future)

• सम्प्रति: at present
• सम्प्रति: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: samprati (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; time-adverb

• क्षमम्: appropriate
• क्षमम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṣama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘appropriate’ qualifying (tad vākyaṃ)

• निशम्य: having heard
• निशम्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-śam (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त (absolutive); ‘having heard/listened’

• तत्: that
• तत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; demonstrative qualifying वाक्यम्

• वाक्यम्: speech, statement
• वाक्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vākya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• उपस्थितज्वरः: one seized by rage
• उपस्थितज्वरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: upasthita + jvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि: ‘one whose fever (rage) has arisen’

• प्रसङ्गवान्: (being) contentious/argumentative
• प्रसङ्गवान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prasaṅga-vat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘given to (argumentative) talk/occasion’

• उत्तरम्: reply
• उत्तरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: uttara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘reply’

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; demonstrative qualifying उत्तरम्

• अब्रवीत्: said/spoke
• अब्रवीत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: brū (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Context

Foregoing the beneficial, meaningful, and gentle words of counsel of significance in the past, present and future also (given by Vibheeshana), Ravana seized with anger replied in this manner.

Characters & Entities

• Vibhīṣaṇa
• Rāvaṇa
• ministers (mantriṇaḥ)
• rākṣasas

FAQs

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

Dharma includes giving ‘pathya’ counsel—advice that heals and restores order—even when addressed to one’s own family and even before a hostile court.

What is the narrative situation?

The narrator summarizes that Vibhīṣaṇa has just delivered beneficial advice to Rāvaṇa in the royal assembly.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Fraternal responsibility and moral steadfastness.