Shloka 13

विभीषणोपदेशे रावणस्य परुषवाक्यम्

Ravana’s Harsh Reply to Vibhishana’s Counsel

Devanagari script

यथापूर्वंगजस्स्नात्वागृह्यहस्तेनवैरजः ।दूषयत्यात्मनोदेहंतथानार्येषुसङ्गतम् ।।।।

Transliteration

yathā pūrvaṃ gajaḥ snātvā gṛhya hastena vai rajaḥ | dūṣayaty ātmano dehaṃ tathā 'nāryeṣu saṅgatam || 6.16.13 ||

Translation

Wie ein Elefant, der nach dem Bad mit dem Rüssel Staub aufnimmt und seinen eigenen Leib beschmutzt, so befleckt auch der Umgang mit Unedlen den eigenen guten Zustand.

Word by Word

यथाjust as

पूर्वम्first

गजःan elephant

स्नात्वाhaving bathed

गृह्यhaving taken

हस्तेनwith (its) hand/trunk

वैindeed

रजःdust

दूषयतिdefiles/soils

आत्मनःof itself/its own

देहम्body

तथाso/likewise

अनार्येषुamong the unworthy

सङ्गतम्association

Context

"Just as an elephant takes dust with its trunk and abuses (and spreads on) its own body after taking a bath so also is the association with unworthy ones."

Characters & Entities

Rāvaṇa

Vibhīṣaṇa

Elephant (gaja)

FAQs

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

Dharma stresses guarding one’s conduct through wholesome company; bad association can undo one’s purity and discipline, like self-soiling after cleansing.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa continues his tirade, using vivid imagery to argue that association with ‘unworthy’ persons is degrading.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Discernment in choosing companions (saṅga-viveka) is implied as a virtue; the scene also exposes Rāvaṇa’s misuse of counsel as insult.