Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 16, Shloka 20
विभीषणोपदेशे रावणस्य परुषवाक्यम्
Ravana’s Harsh Reply to Vibhishana’s Counsel
सुनीतंहितकामेनवाक्यमुक्तंदशानन: ।नगृह्णन्त्यकृतात्मानःकालस्यवशमागताः ।।।।
sunītaṃ hitakāmena vākyam uktaṃ daśānana | na gṛhṇanty akṛtātmānaḥ kālasya vaśam āgatāḥ ||
Ô Daśānana ! Ceux dont l’esprit n’est pas maîtrisé, tombés sous l’empire de Kāla (la Mort), n’acceptent pas les paroles bien conduites et salutaires prononcées par celui qui veut leur bien.
"O Ten-headed king! Fallen under the sway of death, you are foolish. You do not understand the well prepared good words spoken by me wishing your welfare."
FAQs
Dharma requires self-mastery and receptivity to wise counsel; moral failure often begins when one refuses beneficial truth due to inner disorder and impending ruin.
Vibhīṣaṇa explains why Rāvaṇa rejects good advice: his mind is ungoverned and he is rushing toward destruction.
Wisdom in counsel—Vibhīṣaṇa frames the conflict as ethical blindness rather than mere political disagreement.