Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 16, Shloka 1

विभीषणोपदेशे रावणस्य परुषवाक्यम्

Ravana’s Harsh Reply to Vibhishana’s Counsel

Devanagari script

सुनिविष्टंहितंवाक्यमुक्तवन्तंविभीषणम् ।अब्रवीत्परुषंवाक्यंरावणःकालचोदितः ।।।।

Transliteration

suniviṣṭaṃ hitaṃ vākyam uktavantaṃ vibhīṣaṇam | abravīt paruṣaṃ vākyam rāvaṇaḥ kāla-coditaḥ || 6.16.1 ||

Translation

ヴィビーシャナが道理にかなった益ある言葉を述べたにもかかわらず、ラーヴァナは—宿命に駆られ死期迫り—荒々しい言葉で答えた。

Word by Word

• suniviṣṭam: well-considered / well-set
• suniviṣṭam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su-ni-viṣṭa (कृदन्त; √viś/viṣ् (धातु) + नि + सु, क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त; qualifies "vākyam"

• hitam: beneficial
• hitam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hita (कृदन्त; √dhā (धातु) + हि- (हित), क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; qualifies "vākyam"

• vākyam: speech/words
• vākyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vākya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• uktavantam: who had spoken
• uktavantam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: uktavant (कृदन्त; √vac (धातु) + क्तवतुँ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्तवतुँ-प्रत्ययान्त (past active participle); qualifies "vibhīṣaṇam"

• vibhīṣaṇam: Vibhīṣaṇa
• vibhīṣaṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vibhīṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• abravīt: said/spoke
• abravīt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √brū (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• paruṣam: harsh
• paruṣam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: paruṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; qualifies second "vākyam"

• vākyam: speech/words
• vākyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vākya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• rāvaṇaḥ: Rāvaṇa
• rāvaṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāvaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• kālacoditaḥ: impelled by Time/Death
• kālacoditaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kāla + codita (कृदन्त; √cud (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (कालेन चोदितः = urged by Time/Death); qualifies "rāvaṇaḥ"

Context

While Vibheeshana advised in Ravana's favour with all good intention, Ravana who was under the influence of death spoke harsh words.

Characters & Entities

• Vibhīṣaṇa
• Rāvaṇa
• Kāla (Time/Death, personified)

FAQs

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

Dharma esteems accepting beneficial truth (hita) even when unpleasant; rejecting good counsel and responding with harshness accelerates moral and practical ruin.

What is the narrative situation?

After Vibhīṣaṇa offers well-meant advice, Rāvaṇa answers angrily, showing he is no longer receptive to righteous counsel.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

By contrast: Vibhīṣaṇa’s well-intentioned speech; negatively, Rāvaṇa’s vice of anger and obstinate refusal of truth.