Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 16, Shloka 27

विभीषणोपदेशे रावणस्य परुषवाक्यम्

Ravana’s Harsh Reply to Vibhishana’s Counsel

Devanagari script

निवार्यमाणस्यमयाहितैषिणानरोचतेतेवचनंनिशाचर: ।परीतकालाहिगतायुषोनराहितंनगृह्णन्तिसुहृद्भिरीरितम् ।।।।

Transliteration

nivāryamāṇasya mayā hitaiṣiṇā na rocate te vacanaṃ niśācaraḥ |

parīta-kālā hi gatāyuṣo narā hitaṃ na gṛhṇanti suhṛdbhir īritam ||

Translation

夜にさまよう者よ、汝を戒めんと善意より語った我が言葉は、汝の心にかなわぬ。死期すでに迫り寿命尽きんとする者は、友の述べる善き忠告を受け入れぬものだ。

Word by Word

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/quotative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: quotative particle (iti-nipāta)

• uktvā: having spoken
• uktvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (धातु)
• Form: Ktvā (absolutive/क्त्वा), avyaya; pūrvakāla-kriyā: 'having said'

• paruṣam: harsh
• paruṣam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: paruṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsaka, Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana; qualifies vākyaṃ

• vākyam: words/speech
• vākyam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vākya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsaka, Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana

• rāvaṇam: to Ravana
• rāvaṇam: Karma (कर्म/Object/goal of speech)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāvaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana

• rāvaṇa-anujaḥ: Ravana's younger brother (Vibhishana)
• rāvaṇa-anujaḥ: Kartā (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāvaṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + anuja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st), Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: 'younger brother of Rāvaṇa'

• ājagāma: came/arrived
• ājagāma: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√gam (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ (Perfect/लिट्), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana; parasmaipada

• muhūrtena: in a moment
• muhūrtena: Kāla (काल/Time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muhūrta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā (3rd), Ekavacana; kāla-karaṇa: 'in a short time'

• yatra: where
• yatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yatra (अव्यय)
• Form: deśa-avyaya (relative adverb of place)

• rāmaḥ: Rama
• rāmaḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/located entity in yatra-clause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st), Ekavacana

• sa-lakṣmaṇaḥ: with Lakshmana
• sa-lakṣmaṇaḥ: Sahārtha (सह/Accompaniment)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (उपसर्ग/सह-अर्थ) + lakṣmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st), Ekavacana; avyayībhāva: 'together with Lakṣmaṇa' qualifying rāmaḥ

Context

"It is known that they (paternal relatives) teach the means to catch us. Out of all fears the fear of close relatives is the great difficulty for us."

Characters & Entities

• Vibhīṣaṇa
• Rāvaṇa
• niśācara (rākṣasa epithet)

FAQs

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

Dharma teaches receptivity to wise counsel; refusing truthful advice accelerates ruin, especially when one is already bound to the consequences of adharma.

What is the narrative situation?

Vibhīṣaṇa observes that Rāvaṇa finds his restraining advice unpleasant and notes a tragic pattern: those near destruction reject friends’ beneficial words.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Truthful admonition (satya-upadeśa) and compassion, even when it is unwelcome.