Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 16, Shloka 24

विभीषणोपदेशे रावणस्य परुषवाक्यम्

Ravana’s Harsh Reply to Vibhishana’s Counsel

Devanagari script

शूराश्चबलवन्तश्चकृतास्त्राश्चरणाजिरे ।कालाभिपन्नास्सीदन्तियथावालुकसेतव ।।।।

Transliteration

śūrāś ca balavantaś ca kṛtāstrāś ca raṇājire | kālābhipannāḥ sīdanti yathā vālukasetavaḥ ||

Translation

戦場では、勇者であっても—力強く武器に熟達していても—時に捕らえられれば沈む。砂で築いた堤のように。

Word by Word

• śūrāḥ: heroes
• śūrāḥ: Kartā (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śūra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st), Bahuvacana

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: samuccaya-avyaya (conjunction)

• balavantaḥ: mighty
• balavantaḥ: Kartā (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: balavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st), Bahuvacana; viśeṣaṇa of (implicit) narāḥ/śūrāḥ

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: samuccaya-avyaya (conjunction)

• kṛta-astrāḥ: armed (weapon-equipped)
• kṛta-astrāḥ: Kartā (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛta (कृदन्त, √kṛ) + astra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st), Bahuvacana; tatpuruṣa: 'prepared/armed with weapons'

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: samuccaya-avyaya (conjunction)

• raṇa-ājire: in the battlefield
• raṇa-ājire: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: raṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + ajira (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsaka, Saptamī (7th/सप्तमी), Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: 'in the courtyard/field of battle'

• kāla-abhipannāḥ: seized by death
• kāla-abhipannāḥ: Kartā (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kāla (प्रातिपदिक) + abhipanna (कृदन्त, √pad with abhi-)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st), Bahuvacana; tatpuruṣa: 'overtaken by Time/death'

• sīdanti: sink/fall
• sīdanti: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √sad (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (Present), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Bahuvacana; parasmaipada

• yathā: as/just like
• yathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/marker of simile)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: upamā-avyaya (comparative particle)

• vāluka-setavaḥ: sand embankments
• vāluka-setavaḥ: Upamāna (उपमान/Standard of comparison)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāluka (प्रातिपदिक) + setu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st), Bahuvacana; tatpuruṣa: 'sand-dams/bridges of sand'

Context

"Even the heroic archers and mighty men wielding weapons will fall in war seized by death like the dams of sands."

Characters & Entities

• Vibhīṣaṇa
• Rāvaṇa
• Kāla (Time/Death)
• battlefield (raṇājira)

FAQs

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

Power and skill do not defeat moral consequence and mortality; dharma urges humility and timely right action before Time overwhelms all.

What is the narrative situation?

Vibhīṣaṇa warns Rāvaṇa against overconfidence in martial strength, stressing that death can topple even the greatest warriors.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Prudence and humility—recognizing limits of force and the need to choose dharma over pride.