Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 10, Shloka 4
विभीषणोपदेशः
Vibhishana’s Counsel to Ravana and the Catalogue of Omens
मत्तमातङ्गनिश्श्वासैर्व्याकुलीकृतमारुतम् ।शङ्खघोषमहाघोषंतूर्यनादानुनादितम् ।।।।
mattamātaṅganiśśvāsair vyākulīkṛtamārutam | śaṅkhaghoṣamahāghoṣaṃ tūryanādānunāditam ||
The place was churned by gusts as if from the hot breaths of rutting elephants; it resounded with the great blare of conches and reverberated with the sounding of festive instruments.
It was filled with elephants in rut breathing heavily, which was like a tempestuous wind around, that echoed by the blowing of conchs of the early morning and filled with the sounds of drums and trumpets.
FAQs
The verse indirectly highlights ordered kingship and ritual propriety: even amid conflict, a court maintains auspicious sounds and disciplined ceremony—outer order reflecting an ideal of dharmic governance (though later contrasted with Rāvaṇa’s adharma).
The narration describes the soundscape and bustling atmosphere of the royal precinct as Vibhīṣaṇa approaches/enters his brother’s abode.
Not a direct virtue statement; it sets the stage for Vibhīṣaṇa’s composed, observant approach—steadiness and clarity before giving righteous counsel.