Shloka 6.87.14

न्यग्रोध-प्रवेश-निवारणम् (Preventing Indrajit’s Banyan-Tree Rite) / Indrajit Confronts Vibhishana

Devanagari script

नैतछचिथिलयाबुद्ध्यात्वंवेसतिमहदन्तरम् ।क्व च स्वजनसम्वासःक्व च नीचपराश्रयः ।।6.87.14।।

Transliteration

naitac ca śithilayā buddhyā tvaṃ vetsy asi mahad antaram | kva ca svajana-saṃvāsaḥ kva ca nīca-parāśrayaḥ ||6.87.14||

Translation

“With your slackened judgment you do not grasp the great difference: what is life among one’s own, and what is taking shelter with outsiders of low repute.”

Context

"You do not seem to have an understanding of the difference between living with one's own people and seeking refuge from strangers. Your intellect has slackened you are not knowing."

Characters & Entities

• Indrajit (Meghanāda)
• Vibhīṣaṇa

FAQs

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

The verse debates whether moral judgment should be based on ‘ours vs others’ or on righteousness itself. In the Ramayana’s dharmic frame, refuge is justified not by group identity but by alignment with satya and dharma.

What is the narrative situation?

Indrajit tries to shame Vibhīṣaṇa by contrasting ‘staying with one’s own’ against seeking protection from the opposing camp.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Discernment (buddhi) is the explicit theme—Indrajit alleges Vibhīṣaṇa lacks it, while the broader narrative portrays Vibhīṣaṇa as discerning adharma within his own house.