Shloka 2

निकुम्भिला-यज्ञविघ्नोपदेशः

Counsel to Disrupt the Nikumbhilā Rite

Devanagari script

नानाप्रहरणैर्वीरैश्चतुर्भिस्सचिवैर्वृत: ।नीलाञ्जनचयाकारैर्मातङ्गैरिवयूथप ।।।।

Transliteration

nānāpraharaṇair vīraiś caturbhiḥ sacivair vṛtaḥ |

nīlāñjanacayākārair mātaṅgair iva yūthapa ||

Translation

Entouré de quatre ministres héroïques aux armes variées—tel un chef d’éléphants cerné de puissants éléphants sombres, couleur de khôl—Vibhīṣaṇa s’avança vers le magnanime Rāma et vit les troupes des Vānara, les yeux voilés de larmes.

Word by Word

• nānāpraharaṇaiḥ: with various weapons
• nānāpraharaṇaiḥ: Karaṇa/Hetu (करण/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nānā + praharaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya (कर्मधारय) ‘various weapons’; Napumsaka, Tṛtīyā, Bahuvacana

• vīraiḥ: by/with heroes
• vīraiḥ: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vīra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Bahuvacana

• caturbhiḥ: with four
• caturbhiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: catur (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Bahuvacana; numeral adjective qualifying sacivaiḥ

• sacivaiḥ: with ministers
• sacivaiḥ: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saciva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Bahuvacana

• vṛtaḥ: surrounded
• vṛtaḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa/Predicative (विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vṛta (vṛ धातु, क्त; कृदन्त)
• Form: Kta-participle, Pumliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; predicate ‘surrounded’

• nīlāñjanacayākāraiḥ: dark like heaps of collyrium
• nīlāñjanacayākāraiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nīla + añjana + caya + ākāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa chain: ‘nīla-añjana-caya-ākāra’ = ‘having the appearance of a heap of dark collyrium’; Pumliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Bahuvacana; qualifies mātaṅgaiḥ

• mātaṅgaiḥ: with elephants
• mātaṅgaiḥ: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mātaṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Bahuvacana

• iva: like
• iva: Upamā (उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Upamā-avyaya (उपमा-अव्यय)

• yūthapa: O leader of a troop
• yūthapa: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yūthapa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga, Sambodhana (vocative), Ekavacana; address

Context

"Though I pleaded Ravana to return Vaidehi for his welfare, he did not accept my word."

Characters & Entities

• Vibhīṣaṇa
• Rāma (Rāghava)
• Vānaras

FAQs

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

Dharma here is expressed through loyal counsel and responsible leadership: Vibhīṣaṇa approaches Rāma not as a mere ally, but as a principled adviser coming to address a crisis with orderly support.

What is the narrative situation?

After a distressing battlefield deception, Vibhīṣaṇa comes to Rāma with his ministers and observes the Vānara army’s grief and confusion.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Vibhīṣaṇa’s steadiness and duty-bound counsel—approaching the righteous side with preparedness and clarity in a moment of collective sorrow.