Shloka 17

विभीषणोपदेशे रावणस्य परुषवाक्यम्

Ravana’s Harsh Reply to Vibhishana’s Counsel

Devanagari script

इत्युक्तःपरुषंवाक्यंन्यायवादीविभीषणः ।उत्पपातगदापाणिश्चतुर्भिस्सहराक्षसैः ।।।।

Transliteration

ity uktaḥ paruṣaṃ vākyaṃ nyāyavādī vibhīṣaṇaḥ | utpapāta gadāpāṇiś caturbhiḥ saha rākṣasaiḥ ||

Translation

So mit harschen Worten angesprochen, sprang Vibhīṣaṇa – standhaft in der Gerechtigkeit – mit der Keule in der Hand auf, begleitet von vier Rākṣasas.

Word by Word

• abravīt: said
• abravīt: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: brū (ब्रू) (धातु)
• Form: लुङ्-लकार (aorist), परस्मैपद; प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (and)

• tadā: then
• tadā: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/adverbial time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (then)

• vākyam: words
• vākyam: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vākya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• jāta-krodhaḥ: enraged
• jāta-krodhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject-apposition)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jāta (कृदन्त from jan (जन्) धातु) + krodha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (jātaḥ krodhaḥ yasya saḥ); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (of vibhīṣaṇaḥ)

• vibhīṣaṇaḥ: Vibhīṣaṇa
• vibhīṣaṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vibhīṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• antarikṣa-gataḥ: gone into the sky
• antarikṣa-gataḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject-apposition)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: antarikṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + gata (कृदन्त from gam (गम्) धातु)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (सप्तमी-तत्पुरुष: antarikṣe gataḥ); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• śrīmān: illustrious
• śrīmān: Karta (कर्ता/subject-apposition)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śrīmat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (possessing splendour)

• bhrātaram: (his) brother
• bhrātaram: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhrātṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• rākṣasādhipam: lord of rākṣasas
• rākṣasādhipam: Karma (कर्म/object-apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rākṣasa (प्रातिपदिक) + adhipa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: rākṣasānām adhipaḥ); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; भ्रातरम् इति विशेषणम् (apposition)

Context

Great Vibheeshana was enraged. Then going up into the sky spoke these words to his brother, the Lord of Rakshasas.

Characters & Entities

• Vibhīṣaṇa
• Rāvaṇa
• four rākṣasas (attendants)

FAQs

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

Standing by justice may require decisive action when truthful counsel is met with abuse; dharma can demand separation from adharma.

What is the narrative situation?

After being insulted by Rāvaṇa, Vibhīṣaṇa prepares to depart, taking up his mace and gathering his supporters.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Moral courage and steadfastness in nyāya (just reasoning), even under intimidation.