Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 14, Shloka 21

विभीषणोपदेशः

Vibhīṣaṇa’s Counsel to Rāvaṇa and the Rākṣasa Court

Devanagari script

इदंपुरस्यास्यसराक्षसस्यराज्ञश्चपथ्यंससुहृज्जनस्य ।सम्यग्घिवाक्यंस्वमतंब्रवीमिनरेन्द्रपुत्रायददामपत्नीम् ।।।।

Transliteration

idaṃ purasyāsya sa-rākṣasasya rājñaś ca pathyaṃ sa-suhṛjjanasyā | samyag hi vākyaṃ svamataṃ bravīmi narendraputrāya dadāma patnīm ||

Translation

यह इस नगर के, समस्त राक्षसों के, राजा के और उसके सुहृदों के लिए हितकर परामर्श है। मैं अपना सम्यक् मत कहता हूँ—राजा के पुत्र को उसकी पत्नी लौटा दी जाए।

Word by Word

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: कर्तृ/विषय (subject/topic of speech)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति; एकवचन (pronoun; neuter; nominative; singular)

• पुरस्य: of the city/capital
• पुरस्य: सम्बन्ध (genitive relation: of the city)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pura (पुर) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; षष्ठी-विभक्ति; एकवचन (neuter; genitive; singular)

• अस्य: of this
• अस्य: सम्बन्ध (genitive relation: of this/this one)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (अस्/इदम्) (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग; षष्ठी-विभक्ति; एकवचन (pronoun; masc/neut; genitive; singular)

• सराक्षसस्य: of the rakshasa(-filled) / with rakshasas
• सराक्षसस्य: विशेषण-सम्बन्ध (qualifying genitive: of the rakshasa-possessing/with rakshasas)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa-rākṣasa (स + राक्षस) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास; पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी-विभक्ति; एकवचन (karmadharaya compound; masculine; genitive; singular)

• राज्ञः: of the king
• राज्ञः: सम्बन्ध (genitive relation: of the king)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (राजन्) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी-विभक्ति; एकवचन (masculine; genitive; singular)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• पथ्यम्: wholesome, beneficial, proper
• पथ्यम्: विशेषण (predicate adjective to vākyaṃ: wholesome/beneficial)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pathya (पथ्य) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति; एकवचन (neuter; nominative/accusative; singular)

• ससुहृज्जनस्य: of the friends/well-wishers
• ससुहृज्जनस्य: सम्बन्ध (genitive relation: of the well-wishing people/friends)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sa-suhṛt-jana (स + सुहृत् + जन) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी-विभक्ति; एकवचन (tatpurusha compound; masculine; genitive; singular)

• सम्यक्: properly, rightly
• सम्यक्: क्रियाविशेषण (manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: samyak (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb)

• हि: indeed, for
• हि: निपात (emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात-अव्यय (particle; emphasis/causal nuance)

• वाक्यम्: speech, words
• वाक्यम्: कर्म (object of bravīmi: words/speech)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vākya (वाक्य) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति; एकवचन (neuter; accusative; singular)

• स्वमतम्: my opinion
• स्वमतम्: कर्म (object/apposition to vākyaṃ: my opinion)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva-mata (स्व + मत) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति; एकवचन (tatpurusha compound; neuter; accusative; singular)

• ब्रवीमि: I speak / I say
• ब्रवीमि: क्रिया (main verb: speak)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार; उत्तम-पुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपद (present indicative; 1st person; singular; parasmaipada)

• नरेन्द्रपुत्राय: to the king's son
• नरेन्द्रपुत्राय: सम्प्रदान (recipient: to the king's son)
• Type: Noun
• Root: narendra-putra (नर-इन्द्र + पुत्र) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; पुंलिङ्ग; चतुर्थी-विभक्ति; एकवचन (tatpurusha compound; masculine; dative; singular)

• ददामि: I give
• ददामि: क्रिया (main verb: give)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार; उत्तम-पुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपद (present indicative; 1st person; singular; parasmaipada)

• पत्नीम्: wife
• पत्नीम्: कर्म (object of dadāmi: wife)
• Type: Noun
• Root: patnī (पत्नी) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति; एकवचन (feminine; accusative; singular)

Context

"We are not afraid of Yakshas, Gandharvas, or even Nagas. We have no fear of birds or reptiles. What fear can we have of the king's son, Rama?"

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa (king)
• Rāma (Narendra-putra)
• Sītā (patnī)
• Laṅkā (implied as the city/capital)
• Rākṣasas

FAQs

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

Dharma is expressed as restitution and protection of the polity: returning Sītā is the righteous remedy that safeguards king, city, and people from the fallout of adharma.

What is the narrative situation?

Vibhīṣaṇa offers explicit policy advice in Rāvaṇa’s court: hand Sītā back to Rāma as the only salutary course.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Integrity in counsel—placing the common good and truth above personal security or courtly approval.