Shloka 5.52.12

दूतधर्म-परामर्शः (Envoy-Immunity and Royal Counsel in Ravana’s Court)

Devanagari script

अधर्ममूलं बहुदोषयुक्तमनार्यजुष्टं वचनं निशम्य।उवाच वाक्यं परमार्थतत्त्वं विभीषणो बुद्धिमतां वरिष्ठः।।।।

Transliteration

adharmamūlaṁ bahudoṣayuktam anāryajuṣṭaṁ vacanaṁ niśamya |

uvāca vākyaṁ paramārthatattvaṁ vibhīṣaṇo buddhimatāṁ variṣṭhaḥ ||

Translation

Hearing those words—rooted in adharma, laden with many faults, and unfit for the noble—Vibhīṣaṇa, foremost among the wise, spoke in accord with the highest truth of the matter.

Context

On hearing his brother's harsh words spoken in tremendous anger, which were not acceptable to noble souls, wise Vibhishana again spoke these words of supreme truth:

Characters & Entities

• Vibhīṣaṇa
• Rāvaṇa (implied as source of the adharmic words)

FAQs

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

Speaking truth grounded in dharma even when it is unwelcome: Vibhīṣaṇa embodies satya as principled counsel against adharmic policy.

What is the narrative situation?

After Rāvaṇa’s angry justification, Vibhīṣaṇa prepares to answer with a reasoned, dharma-rooted argument.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Moral courage and wisdom: the ability to oppose wrongful speech with clear ethical reasoning.