Shloka 9

Mārkaṇḍeya’s Consolation to the King: Exempla of Rāma and the Efficacy of Allies (मार्कण्डेयाश्वासनम्)

Devanagari script

विभीषणस्तु रूपेण सर्वेभ्यो5भ्यधिको5भवत्‌ । स बभूव महाभागो धर्मगोप्ता क्रियारति:,इन सब बालकोंमें विभीषण ही सबसे अधिक रूपवान्‌, सौभाग्यशाली, धर्मरक्षक तथा कर्तव्यपरायण थे

Transliteration

vibhīṣaṇas tu rūpeṇa sarvebhyo 'bhyadhiko 'bhavat | sa babhūva mahābhāgo dharmagoptā kriyāratiḥ ||

Translation

Mārkaṇḍeya said: “But Vibhīṣaṇa surpassed all the others in beauty. He became a man of great fortune—one who guarded dharma and took delight in rightful action and duty.”

Word by Word

• विभीषणः: Vibhīṣaṇa
• विभीषणः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: विभीषण
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तु: but/indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु

• रूपेण: by beauty/appearance
• रूपेण: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: रूप
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• सर्वेभ्यः: from/than all (others)
• सर्वेभ्यः: Apadana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: Masculine, Ablative, Plural

• अभ्यधिकः: superior/exceeding
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभ्यधिक
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अभवत्: was/became
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• सः: he
• सः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• बभूव: became/was
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• महाभागः: very fortunate
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महाभाग
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• धर्मगोप्ता: protector of dharma
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्मगोप्तृ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• क्रियारतिः: devoted to duties/actions
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्रियारति
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

मार्कण्डेय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Mārkaṇḍeya
• Vibhīṣaṇa

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Outer excellence (beauty, fortune) is presented as meaningful when joined to inner excellence: protecting dharma and taking joy in rightful duty. The verse praises character—ethical guardianship and disciplined action—as the true mark of nobility.

What is happening in the narrative?

Mārkaṇḍeya describes Vibhīṣaṇa among a group, stating that he excelled all others in appearance and was distinguished by noble fortune, commitment to dharma, and devotion to proper action.