Shloka 21

विभीषणोपदेशः

Vibhīṣaṇa’s Counsel to Rāvaṇa and the Rākṣasa Court

Devanagari script

इदंपुरस्यास्यसराक्षसस्यराज्ञश्चपथ्यंससुहृज्जनस्य ।सम्यग्घिवाक्यंस्वमतंब्रवीमिनरेन्द्रपुत्रायददामपत्नीम् ।।।।

Transliteration

idaṃ purasyāsya sa-rākṣasasya rājñaś ca pathyaṃ sa-suhṛjjanasyā | samyag hi vākyaṃ svamataṃ bravīmi narendraputrāya dadāma patnīm ||

Translation

Dies, so erkläre ich, ist heilsamer Rat für diese Stadt der Rākṣasas, für den König und für all seine Wohlgesinnten: Mein wohl erwogenes Urteil ist richtig—die Gattin sei dem Königssohn zurückzugeben.

Word by Word

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: कर्तृ/विषय (subject/topic of speech)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति; एकवचन (pronoun; neuter; nominative; singular)

• पुरस्य: of the city/capital
• पुरस्य: सम्बन्ध (genitive relation: of the city)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pura (पुर) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; षष्ठी-विभक्ति; एकवचन (neuter; genitive; singular)

• अस्य: of this
• अस्य: सम्बन्ध (genitive relation: of this/this one)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (अस्/इदम्) (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग; षष्ठी-विभक्ति; एकवचन (pronoun; masc/neut; genitive; singular)

• सराक्षसस्य: of the rakshasa(-filled) / with rakshasas
• सराक्षसस्य: विशेषण-सम्बन्ध (qualifying genitive: of the rakshasa-possessing/with rakshasas)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa-rākṣasa (स + राक्षस) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास; पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी-विभक्ति; एकवचन (karmadharaya compound; masculine; genitive; singular)

• राज्ञः: of the king
• राज्ञः: सम्बन्ध (genitive relation: of the king)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (राजन्) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी-विभक्ति; एकवचन (masculine; genitive; singular)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• पथ्यम्: wholesome, beneficial, proper
• पथ्यम्: विशेषण (predicate adjective to vākyaṃ: wholesome/beneficial)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pathya (पथ्य) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति; एकवचन (neuter; nominative/accusative; singular)

• ससुहृज्जनस्य: of the friends/well-wishers
• ससुहृज्जनस्य: सम्बन्ध (genitive relation: of the well-wishing people/friends)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sa-suhṛt-jana (स + सुहृत् + जन) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी-विभक्ति; एकवचन (tatpurusha compound; masculine; genitive; singular)

• सम्यक्: properly, rightly
• सम्यक्: क्रियाविशेषण (manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: samyak (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb)

• हि: indeed, for
• हि: निपात (emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात-अव्यय (particle; emphasis/causal nuance)

• वाक्यम्: speech, words
• वाक्यम्: कर्म (object of bravīmi: words/speech)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vākya (वाक्य) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति; एकवचन (neuter; accusative; singular)

• स्वमतम्: my opinion
• स्वमतम्: कर्म (object/apposition to vākyaṃ: my opinion)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva-mata (स्व + मत) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति; एकवचन (tatpurusha compound; neuter; accusative; singular)

• ब्रवीमि: I speak / I say
• ब्रवीमि: क्रिया (main verb: speak)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार; उत्तम-पुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपद (present indicative; 1st person; singular; parasmaipada)

• नरेन्द्रपुत्राय: to the king's son
• नरेन्द्रपुत्राय: सम्प्रदान (recipient: to the king's son)
• Type: Noun
• Root: narendra-putra (नर-इन्द्र + पुत्र) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; पुंलिङ्ग; चतुर्थी-विभक्ति; एकवचन (tatpurusha compound; masculine; dative; singular)

• ददामि: I give
• ददामि: क्रिया (main verb: give)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार; उत्तम-पुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपद (present indicative; 1st person; singular; parasmaipada)

• पत्नीम्: wife
• पत्नीम्: कर्म (object of dadāmi: wife)
• Type: Noun
• Root: patnī (पत्नी) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति; एकवचन (feminine; accusative; singular)

Context

"We are not afraid of Yakshas, Gandharvas, or even Nagas. We have no fear of birds or reptiles. What fear can we have of the king's son, Rama?"

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa (king)
• Rāma (Narendra-putra)
• Sītā (patnī)
• Laṅkā (implied as the city/capital)
• Rākṣasas

FAQs

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

Dharma is expressed as restitution and protection of the polity: returning Sītā is the righteous remedy that safeguards king, city, and people from the fallout of adharma.

What is the narrative situation?

Vibhīṣaṇa offers explicit policy advice in Rāvaṇa’s court: hand Sītā back to Rāma as the only salutary course.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Integrity in counsel—placing the common good and truth above personal security or courtly approval.