Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 10, Shloka 11

विभीषणोपदेशः

Vibhishana’s Counsel to Ravana and the Catalogue of Omens

Devanagari script

सराजदृष्टिसम्पन्नमासनंहेमभूषितम् ।जगामसमुदाचारंप्रयुज्याचारकोविदः ।।।।

Transliteration

sarājadṛṣṭisampannam āsanaṃ hemabhūṣitam | jagāma samudācāraṃ prayujy ācārakovidaḥ ||

Translation

Diestro en la recta conducta, Vibhīṣaṇa se acercó al asiento adornado de oro, favorecido por la mirada del rey, guardando por completo el decoro de la corte.

Word by Word

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• rāja-dṛṣṭi-sampannam: endowed with the king's glance/favour
• rāja-dṛṣṭi-sampannam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rājan + dṛṣṭi + sampanna (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying āsanam)

• āsanam: seat
• āsanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āsana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• hema-bhūṣitam: decorated with gold
• hema-bhūṣitam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hema + √bhūṣ (धातु; भूष्) + kta (कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; ‘adorned with gold’

• jagāma: went/reached
• jagāma: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √gam (धातु; गम्)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• samudācāram: proper conduct/etiquette
• samudācāram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: samudācāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्म (object)

• prayujya: having applied/observed
• prayujya: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: pra-√yuj (धातु; युज्) + ल्यप् (कृदन्त; gerund)
• Form: अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/क्त्वान्त-समकक्ष), ‘having applied/observed’

• ācāra-kovidaḥ: one skilled in conduct
• ācāra-kovidaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ācāra + kovida (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तृ-विशेषण (epithet)

Context

Vibheeshana who was learned in traditions and well-versed with code of conduct reached a seat decorated with gold blessed by the glance of the king Ravana.

Characters & Entities

• Vibhīṣaṇa
• Rāvaṇa (implied by rāja-dṛṣṭi)
• āsana (seat)
• hema (gold)

FAQs

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

Maryādā is dharma: right conduct and restraint in public spaces preserve order and make truthful counsel possible.

What is the narrative situation?

Within the royal court, Vibhīṣaṇa takes his proper place according to protocol, preparing for formal speech or advice.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Ācāra (disciplined propriety): knowing and practicing the codes of respectful engagement.