Shloka 6.87.19

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

Devanagari script

राक्षसेन्द्रसुतासाधोपारुष्यंत्यजगौरवात् ।कुलेयद्यप्यहंजातोरक्षसांक्रूरकर्मणाम् ।।6.87.19।।गुणोयःप्रथमोनृणंतन्मेशीलमराक्षसम् ।

Transliteration

rākṣasendrasuta asādho pāruṣyaṃ tyaja gauravāt | kule yady apy ahaṃ jāto rakṣasāṃ krūrakarmaṇām || 6.87.19 || guṇo yaḥ prathamo nṛṇāṃ tan me śīlam arākṣasam |

Translation

O wicked son of the rākṣasa-king, abandon this harshness out of regard for honor. Though I was born in a clan of rākṣasas known for cruel deeds, I have embraced dharma as the foremost human virtue; therefore my character is not rākṣasa-like.

Context

"Impious son of Rakshasa king! Though born in the Rakshasa clan I renounced cruel deeds and followed respectfully manliness as my primary quality. My nature is not like that of Rakshasas."

Characters & Entities

• Vibhīṣaṇa
• Indrajit (Meghanāda)
• Rāvaṇa (implied as rākṣasendra)

FAQs

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

Dharma is grounded in chosen virtue, not merely birth: one may be born into a cruel lineage yet commit to humane, righteous qualities as primary.

What is the narrative situation?

Vibhīṣaṇa answers Indrajit’s insult by explaining his moral divergence from rākṣasa cruelty despite shared family and clan.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Moral autonomy and reformation—Vibhīṣaṇa foregrounds the ‘foremost human virtue’ (a dharmic guṇa) as his defining trait.