Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 16, Shloka 6

विभीषणोपदेशे रावणस्य परुषवाक्यम्

Ravana’s Harsh Reply to Vibhishana’s Counsel

Devanagari script

श्रूयन्तेहस्तिभिर्गीताश्श्लोकाःपद्मवनेक्वचित् ।पाशहस्तान्नरान्द्रुष्टवाशृणुतान्गदतोमम ।।।।

Transliteration

śrūyante hastibhir gītāḥ ślokāḥ padmavane kvacit |

pāśa-hastān narān dṛṣṭvā śṛṇutān gadato mama ||

Translation

聞くところによれば、かつて蓮の林で、象たちは手に罠縄を持つ人々を見て、偈（シュローカ）を歌ったという。いまその偈を私が語るゆえ、聞け。

Word by Word

• श्रूयन्ते: are heard
• श्रूयन्ते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद (passive sense: are heard)

• हस्तिभिः: by elephants
• हस्तिभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हस्तिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन

• गीताः: sung/uttered
• गीताः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गी (धातु) + त (कृदन्त प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; श्लोकाः इति विशेषणम्

• श्लोकाः: verses
• श्लोकाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• पद्मवने: in the lotus-grove
• पद्मवने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद्म + वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः पद्मानां वनम् (lotus-grove)

• क्वचित्: somewhere/sometimes
• क्वचित्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्वचित् (अव्यय)
• Form: देश/काल-अव्यय (indefinite adverb)

• पाशहस्तान्: holding nooses
• पाशहस्तान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पाश + हस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः पाशः हस्ते येषाम् (with nooses in hand)

• नरान्: men
• नरान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive)

• शृणुत: listen (you all)
• शृणुत: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• तान्: those (verses)
• तान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (pronoun)

• गदतः: of me, who is speaking
• गदतः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गद् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त (present active participle), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन; मम इति सम्बन्धः

• मम: my/of me
• मम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (pronoun)

Context

"The behaviour of close relatives in all worlds is known to me. They are happy at the difficulties of relatives."

Characters & Entities

• Vibhīṣaṇa
• Rāvaṇa
• pāśa (noose/snares)

FAQs

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

Dharma-based teaching often uses illustrative stories; wisdom is conveyed through parable to awaken discernment and right action.

What is the narrative situation?

Vibhīṣaṇa introduces a proverbial teaching (attributed to elephants) to underscore the dangers surrounding a ruler—especially hidden threats.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Pedagogical wisdom: using memorable examples to communicate truth effectively.