Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 10, Shloka 1

विभीषणोपदेशः

Vibhishana’s Counsel to Ravana and the Catalogue of Omens

Devanagari script

ततःप्रत्युषसिप्राप्तेप्राप्तधर्मार्थनिश्चयः ।राक्षसाधिपतेर्वेश्मभीमकर्माविभीषणः ।।।।

Transliteration

tataḥ pratyuṣasi prāpte prāptadharmārthaniścayaḥ | rākṣasādhipater veśma bhīmakarmā vibhīṣaṇaḥ ||

Translation

Then, when dawn arrived, Vibhīṣaṇa—steadfast in dharma and prudent in sound policy, a man of formidable deeds—set out for the residence of the lord of the rākṣasas, Rāvaṇa.

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then, thereafter
• tataḥ: Kāla/Anantarya (काल/अनन्तर्य)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (thereafter)

• pratyuṣasi: at dawn
• pratyuṣasi: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pratyuṣas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; locative of time

• prāpte: when (it) had arrived
• prāpte: Sati-saptamī (सति-सप्तमी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pra-√āp (धातु)
• Form: क्त (PPP), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; locative absolute with प्रत्युषसि

• prāpta-dharma-artha-niścayaḥ: one who had formed a resolve about dharma and artha
• prāpta-dharma-artha-niścayaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prāpta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + dharma (प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक) + niścaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (dharma-artha-viṣaye niścayaḥ yasya saḥ; prāptaḥ niścayaḥ); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (agreeing with विभीषणः)

• rākṣasa-adhipateḥ: of the lord of the Rākṣasas
• rākṣasa-adhipateḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rākṣasa (प्रातिपदिक) + adhipati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (rākṣasānām adhipatiḥ); पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• veśma: residence, palace
• veśma: Karma (कर्म; destination)
• Type: Noun
• Root: veśman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; object of an implied ‘went/approached’ (गत्वा/प्रविवेश)

• bhīma-karmā: of terrible deeds
• bhīma-karmā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhīma (प्रातिपदिक) + karman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि (bhīmaṃ karma yasya saḥ); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (agreeing with विभीषणः)

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

Context

Thereafter, determined to relate about righteous and material gains, Vibheeshana of fierce tasks got up early in the morning when the Sun rose and set himself to go to the residence of Lord of Rakshasas.

Characters & Entities

• Vibhīṣaṇa
• Rāvaṇa
• rākṣasas

FAQs

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

Dharma is paired with artha (prudent action): righteous intent must be joined to wise counsel and timely initiative.

What is the narrative situation?

At daybreak, Vibhīṣaṇa prepares to meet Rāvaṇa, indicating an imminent attempt at counsel or negotiation within Laṅkā’s court.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Vibhīṣaṇa’s nīti-yukta dharma (ethical clarity with practical wisdom) and readiness to act.