Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 10, Shloka 29

विभीषणोपदेशः

Vibhishana’s Counsel to Ravana and the Catalogue of Omens

Devanagari script

इत्येवमुक्त्वासुरसैन्यनाशनोमहाबलस्संयतिचण्डविक्रमः ।दशाननोभ्रातरमाप्तवादिनंविसर्जयामासतदाविभीषणम् ।।।।

Transliteration

ity evam uktvā surasainyanāśano mahābalaḥ saṁyati caṇḍavikramaḥ |

daśānano bhrātaram āptavādinaṁ visarjayāmāsa tadā vibhīṣaṇam ||

Translation

Having spoken thus, the ten-headed Rāvaṇa—mighty, fierce in battle, famed as a destroyer of the gods’ armies—then dismissed Vibhīṣaṇa, his brother who had spoken trustworthy counsel.

Word by Word

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• बभूव: became
• बभूव: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• कृशः: emaciated, weak
• कृशः: Vidhēya-visheshana (विधेय-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; predicate adjective to राजा

• राजा: the king
• राजा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• मैथिलीकाममोहितः: deluded by desire for Maithilī
• मैथिलीकाममोहितः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: maithilī + kāma + mohita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (nested): मैथिली-काम (desire for Maithilī) + मोहित (deluded)

• असन्मानात्: from disrespect
• असन्मानात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asanmāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन; ablative of cause

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; conjunction

• सुहृदाम्: of friends/well-wishers
• सुहृदाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: suhṛd (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन

• पापम्: sinful, wicked
• पापम्: Vidhēya-visheshana (विधेय-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pāpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; predicate adjective to राजा/सः

• पापेन: by sinful
• पापेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pāpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसक/पुं (contextual), तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; instrumental of cause/means qualifying कर्मणा

• कर्मणा: by action/deed
• कर्मणा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: karman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन

Context

The palace was inhabited by wise ones, and devoted to their Lord and ministers,commanded by trustworthy and competent Rakshasas spread everywhere and well protected.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa (Daśānana)
• Vibhīṣaṇa
• suras (gods)

FAQs

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

Rejecting truthful counsel is a failure of dharma: power without receptivity to satya leads to isolation and downfall.

What is the narrative situation?

After boasting, Rāvaṇa expels Vibhīṣaṇa from his presence, severing the last internal voice urging restitution and peace.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Vibhīṣaṇa’s reliability (āpta-vāditva)—speaking what is true and beneficial—even when it costs him acceptance.