Shloka 8

विभीषण–इन्द्रजित् संवादः

Vibhishana and Indrajit: Counsel, Boast, and Rebuttal

Devanagari script

अथेन्द्रकल्पस्यदुरासदस्यमहौजसस्तद्वचनंनिशम्य ।ततोमहार्थवचनंबभाषेविभीषणश्शस्त्रभृतांवरिष्ठः ।।6.15.8।।

Transliteration

athendra-kalpasya durāsadasya mahaujasas tad-vacanaṃ niśamya | tato mahārtha-vacanaṃ babhāṣe vibhīṣaṇaḥ śastra-bhṛtāṃ variṣṭhaḥ || 6.15.8 ||

Translation

Als Vibhīṣaṇa, der Vornehmste unter den Waffenträgern, jene Worte des furchtbaren, Indra-gleichen und überaus mächtigen Kriegers vernahm, sprach er daraufhin einen Rat von tiefem und heilsamem Gewicht.

Word by Word

• अथ: then; thereupon
• अथ: सम्बन्ध/काल-क्रमसूचक (discourse connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपक्रम/अनन्तरार्थक (sequence marker: 'then/thereupon')

• इन्द्रकल्पस्य: of the Indra-like (one)
• इन्द्रकल्पस्य: षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध (genitive qualifier of the person whose words are heard)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इन्द्र + कल्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive, 6th); एकवचन (Singular); समासः—तत्पुरुष (उपमान-तत्पुरुष: इन्द्र इव कल्पः = Indra-like)

• दुरासदस्य: of the unapproachable / hard-to-assail (one)
• दुरासदस्य: षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध (genitive qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर् + आसद (धातु-आसद्) → दुरासद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive, 6th); एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying the same referent as इन्द्रकल्पस्य)

• महौजसः: of the very mighty (one)
• महौजसः: षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध (genitive qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् + ओजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive, 6th); एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (महच्च तत् ओजः यस्य = of great might)

• तत्: that
• तत्: कर्म (object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative, 2nd); एकवचन; सर्वनाम; विशेषण (वचनम् इति पदस्य)

• वचनम्: speech; words
• वचनम्: कर्म (object of निशम्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative, 2nd); एकवचन

• निशम्य: having heard; after listening to
• निशम्य: पूर्वक्रिया (prior action qualifying main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि + शम् (धातु) → निशम्य (क्त्वान्त/ल्यबन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund/Absolutive); पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having heard/after hearing)

• ततः: thereupon; then
• ततः: काल-क्रमसूचक (discourse connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (तद्-प्रभव अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तदर्थक-क्रम/अनन्तरार्थ (thereupon/then)

• महार्थवचनम्: a speech of great import / beneficial counsel
• महार्थवचनम्: कर्म (object of बभाषे)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + अर्थ + वचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative, 2nd); एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: महतः अर्थस्य वचनम् = speech of great import/benefit)

• बभाषे: spoke; said
• बभाषे: क्रिया (main action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भाष् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect); प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person); एकवचन; परस्मैपद-रूप (classical usage: 'spoke')

• विभीषणः: Vibhīṣaṇa
• विभीषणः: कर्ता (agent of बभाषे)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विभीषण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative, 1st); एकवचन; व्यक्तिवाचक (proper noun)

• शस्त्रभृताम्: of weapon-bearers; of warriors
• शस्त्रभृताम्: षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध (genitive of the group: 'among/of weapon-bearers')
• Type: Noun
• Root: शस्त्र + भृत् (धातु-भृ) → शस्त्रभृत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive, 6th); बहुवचन (Plural); समासः—तत्पुरुष (उपपद-तत्पुरुष: शस्त्रं भृत् = weapon-bearer)

• वरिष्ठः: the best; foremost
• वरिष्ठः: कर्ता-विशेषण (qualifier of the agent)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वरिष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक; श्रेष्ठतम-तुल्य)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative, 1st); एकवचन; विशेषण (विभीषणः इति पदस्य)

Context

Vibheeshana, the best among wielders of weapons, spoke the following words of highly beneficial advice after hearing the words of dangerous Indrajith, the foremost of the warriors.

Characters & Entities

• Indra
• Indrajit (as indra-kalpa, implied)
• Vibhīṣaṇa

FAQs

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

Dharma values timely, beneficial counsel (hita-vacana), especially when power and pride are rising; wise speech aims at welfare, not flattery.

What is the narrative situation?

After Indrajit’s boast, the narration introduces Vibhīṣaṇa’s response as weighty advice.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Vibhīṣaṇa’s virtue of prudent counsel—speaking what is beneficial and true even in a hostile court.