HomeRamayanaYuddha KandaSarga 9Shloka 6.9.1
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Shloka 6.9.1

विभीषणोपदेशः — Vibhishana’s Counsel to Ravana

ततोनिकुम्भोरभसस्सूर्यशत्रुर्महाबलः ।सुप्तघ्नोयज्ञहारक्षोमहापार्श्वमहोदरौ ।।।।अग्निकेतुश्चदुर्धर्षोरश्मिकेतुश्चराक्षस: ।इन्द्रजिच्चमहातेजाबलवान्रावणात्मजः ।।।।प्रहस्तोऽथविरूपाक्षोवज्रदंष्ट्रोमहाबलः ।धूम्राक्षश्चातिकायश्चदुर्मुखश्चैवराक्षसः ।।।।परिघान्पट्टिशान्प्रासान्शक्तिशूलपरश्वधान् ।चापानिचसबाणानिखङ्गांश्चविपुलान्शितान् ।।।।प्रगृह्यपरमक्रुद्धास्समुत्पत्यचराक्षसाः ।अब्रुवन्रावणंसर्वेप्रदीप्ताइवतेजसा ।।।।

tato nikumbho rabhasas sūryaśatrur mahābalaḥ | suptaghno yajñahā rakṣo mahāpārśva-mahodarau ||

agniketuś ca durdharṣo raśmiketuś ca rākṣasaḥ | indrajic ca mahātejā balavān rāvaṇātmajaḥ ||

prahasto ’tha virūpākṣo vajradaṃṣṭro mahābalaḥ | dhūmrākṣaś cātikāyaś ca durmukhaś caiva rākṣasaḥ ||

parighān paṭṭiśān prāsān śakti-śūla-paraśvadhān | cāpāni ca sabāṇāni khaṅgāṃś ca vipulān śitān ||

pragṛhya paramakruddhāḥ samutpatya ca rākṣasāḥ | abruvan rāvaṇaṃ sarve pradīptā iva tejasā ||

Then Nikumbha and Rabhasa, the mighty Sūryaśatru, Suptaghna, the rākṣasa who plunders the offerings of yajña, Mahāpārśva and Mahodara; Agniketu and the unassailable Raśmiketu; and Indrajit, the powerful and radiant son of Rāvaṇa; then Prahasta, Virūpākṣa, the strong Vajradaṃṣṭra, Dhūmrākṣa, Atikāya, and Durmukha—these rākṣasas, seizing clubs, iron maces, spears, śaktis, tridents, axes, bows with arrows, and broad sharp swords, sprang up in furious rage and, blazing as if with fire, addressed Rāvaṇa.

Then Nikumbha, Rshabha, mighty Suryasatru, Supthagna, Yagnaha raksha, Mahaparva, Mahodaro, Durdarsha, Agnikethu, Rasmikethu Rakshasas, Further Ravana's own son powerful Indrajith, Virupaksha and Prahasta, and mighty Rakshasas Vajradamshtra, Dumraaksha and also Durmukha of huge body holding iron bars, tridents, battle axes, bows and sharp arrows, very sharp swords, got up, highly enraged and all Rakshasas glowing like fire addressed Ravana.

R
Rāvaṇa
N
Nikumbha
R
Rabhasa
S
Sūryaśatru
S
Suptaghna
Y
Yajñahā (yajña-plunderer rākṣasa)
M
Mahāpārśva
M
Mahodara
A
Agniketu
R
Raśmiketu
I
Indrajit
P
Prahasta
V
Virūpākṣa
V
Vajradaṃṣṭra
D
Dhūmrākṣa
A
Atikāya
D
Durmukha

The verse depicts warriors rising in rage; ethically, it highlights (by contrast) that action driven by krodha and pride tends toward adharma, lacking the restraint and discernment praised elsewhere in the Ramayana.

Rāvaṇa’s principal commanders assemble, arm themselves, and rise to speak in counsel—setting up the strategic and moral debate about how to respond to Rāma’s advance.

Not a virtue but a warning-sign: the commanders are characterized by fury and martial confidence, illustrating how uncontrolled anger can dominate decision-making.