Shloka 20

विभीषणोपदेशः

Vibhishana’s Counsel to Ravana

Devanagari script

प्रसादयेत्वांबन्धुत्वात्कुरुष्यवचनंमम ।हितंतथ्यमहंब्रूमिदीयतामस्यमैथिली ।।।।

Transliteration

prasādaye tvāṃ bandhutvāt kuruṣya vacanaṃ mama | hitaṃ tathyaṃ ahaṃ brūmi dīyatām asya maithilī ||

Translation

血縁ゆえに汝に願う、我が言葉に従え。私は真実にして益あることを告げる—マイティリーを彼に返せ。

Word by Word

• prasādaye: I appease / I entreat
• prasādaye: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√sad (धातु)
• Form: लट्, उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• tvām: you
• tvām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया, एकवचन

• bandhutvāt: because of kinship
• bandhutvāt: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bandhutva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचन; ablative of cause (हेतोः)

• kuruṣya: do
• kuruṣya: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद (Vedic/epic imperative form)

• vacanam: word, instruction
• vacanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• mama: my
• mama: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी, एकवचन

• hitam: what is beneficial
• hitam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; object of ब्रूमि

• tathyam: true
• tathyam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tathya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (agreeing with हितम्)

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा, एकवचन

• brūmi: I say
• brūmi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √brū (धातु)
• Form: लट्, उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• dīyatām: let (her) be given
• dīyatām: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dā (धातु)
• Form: लोट्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि (passive)

• asya: to him
• asya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• maithilī: Maithilī (Sītā)
• maithilī: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maithilī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Context

"I am requesting you because you are my relation (brother). Do as I said, as I am telling you for your welfare. Give away Sita."

Characters & Entities

• Vibhīṣaṇa
• Rāvaṇa
• Maithilī (Sītā)

FAQs

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

Dharma is articulated as truth spoken for welfare (satya + hita). Right counsel must aim at correction of wrongdoing, even when addressed to one’s own family.

What is the narrative situation?

Vibhīṣaṇa urges Rāvaṇa, as a brother and well-wisher, to return Sītā to Rāma to avert disaster.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Moral courage and integrity—Vibhīṣaṇa prioritizes truth and welfare over fear of offending a powerful king.