Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 10, Shloka 5

विभीषणोपदेशः

Vibhishana’s Counsel to Ravana and the Catalogue of Omens

Devanagari script

प्रमदाजनसम्बाधंप्रजल्पितमहापथम् ।तप्तकाञ्चननिर्यूहंभूषणोत्तमभूषितम् ।।।।

Transliteration

pramadājanasambādhaṃ prajalpitamahāpatham | taptakāñcananiryūhaṃ bhūṣaṇottamabhūṣitam ||

Translation

The great thoroughfare was crowded with women and alive with lively chatter; its passages gleamed like heated gold, and it was adorned with the finest ornaments.

Word by Word

• pramadā-jana-sambādham: crowded with women/people
• pramadā-jana-sambādham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pramadā + jana + sambādha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• prajalpita-mahā-patham: whose great road is full of chatter
• prajalpita-mahā-patham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prajalpita (कृदन्त; pra-√jalp जल्प् + क्त) + mahā + patha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; ‘great road where chatter has occurred’

• tapta-kāñcana-niryūham: with molten-gold ramparts/projections
• tapta-kāñcana-niryūham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tapta (कृदन्त; √tap तप् + क्त) + kāñcana + niryūha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• bhūṣaṇa-uttama-bhūṣitam: adorned with excellent ornaments
• bhūṣaṇa-uttama-bhūṣitam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhūṣaṇa + uttama + √bhūṣ (धातु; भूष्) + kta (कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; ‘adorned with the best ornaments’

Context

(It was) The royal path was filled with women, with prattling sounds of gossiping. It had shining golden passages and decorated with the best of ornaments.

FAQs

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

The verse frames the contrast between external prosperity and inner righteousness: splendor and ornamentation are ethically neutral unless guided by dharma; the epic soon tests whether power is used with restraint and truth.

What is the narrative situation?

A visual description of the palace approach and its crowded, festive, richly decorated public space.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Implicitly, Vibhīṣaṇa’s discernment—he moves through grandeur without being morally dazzled, preparing to speak truth.