Shloka 6.15.10

विभीषण–इन्द्रजित् संवादः (Vibhishana and Indrajit: Counsel, Boast, and Rebuttal)

Devanagari script

पुत्रप्रवादेवतुरावणस्यत्वमिन्द्रजिन्मित्रमुखोऽसिशत्रुः ।यस्येदृशंराघवतोविनाशंनिशम्यमोहादनुमन्यसेत्वम् ।।6.15.10।।

Transliteration

kiṃ nāma te tāta-kaniṣṭha vākyam anarthakaṃ caiva su-bhītavat ca | asmin kule yo 'pi bhaven na jātaḥ so 'pīdṛśaṃ naiva vaden na kuryāt ||6.15.2||

Translation

“Uncle—my father’s younger brother—what is this utterly pointless talk you speak, like one seized by fear? Even a man not born in our lineage would neither say nor do anything so unbecoming.”

Context

"Indrajith! Though you are calling yourself as the son of Ravana and pretending to be a friend, you are his foe. Even after hearing about the kind of destruction (of Ravana, his kingdom etc.) from Rama, out of delusion you are accepting (with Ravana)."

Characters & Entities

• Indrajit
• Vibhīṣaṇa
• Rāvaṇa (implied by kinship context)
• Rākṣasa lineage (kula)

FAQs

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

It highlights restraint and propriety in speech: one should not speak out of fear or say what is unbecoming, especially in counsel and public moral judgment.

What is the narrative situation?

Indrajit rebukes Vibhīṣaṇa for counsel that Indrajit interprets as fearful and dishonorable to their clan, during the war deliberations in Laṅkā.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Indrajit claims ‘steadfastness’ and ‘clan-honor’ as virtues, though the verse also implicitly warns how pride can distort ethical discernment.