Shloka 46
तत्रस्थं स तु धर्मात्मा समागच्छद् विभीषण: । भ्राता वै राक्षसेन्द्रस्य चतुर्भि: सचिवै: सह,श्रीरामचन्द्रजी अभी समुद्रके किनारे ही थे कि राक्षसराज रावणके भाई धर्मात्मा विभीषण अपने चार मन्सत्रियोंक साथ उनसे मिलनेके लिये आये
tatra-sthaṃ sa tu dharmātmā samāgacchad vibhīṣaṇaḥ | bhrātā vai rākṣasendrasya caturbhiḥ sacivaiḥ saha ||
While Śrī Rāma was staying there (on the seashore), the righteous-souled Vibhīṣaṇa—brother of the lord of the Rākṣasas (Rāvaṇa)—came to meet him, accompanied by four ministers. The episode highlights how allegiance to dharma can lead one to renounce an unrighteous cause even when bound by family ties.
मार्कण्डेय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds dharma as a higher loyalty than clan or kinship: Vibhīṣaṇa is characterized as dharmātmā, implying that ethical integrity can require leaving an unrighteous side even when it is one’s own family.
As Rāma remains at the seashore, Vibhīṣaṇa—Rāvaṇa’s brother—approaches him, accompanied by four ministers, signaling a decisive shift of support toward the righteous cause.