Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 9, Shloka 23

विभीषणोपदेशः

Vibhishana’s Counsel to Ravana

Devanagari script

विभीषणवच्शुत्वारावणोराक्षसेश्वराः ।विसर्जयित्वातान्सर्वान्प्रविवेशस्वकंगृहम् ।।।।

Transliteration

vibhīṣaṇavacaḥ śrutvā rāvaṇo rākṣaseśvaraḥ | visarjayitvā tān sarvān praviveśa svakaṃ gṛham ||

Translation

ವಿಭೀಷಣನ ವಚನಗಳನ್ನು ಕೇಳಿದ ರಾಕ್ಷಸೇಶ್ವರ ರಾವಣನು, ಅವರನ್ನೆಲ್ಲ ವಿಸರ್ಜಿಸಿ ತನ್ನ ಸ್ವಗೃಹಕ್ಕೆ ಪ್ರವೇಶಿಸಿದನು.

Word by Word

• vibhīṣaṇa-vacaḥ: Vibhīṣaṇa's words
• vibhīṣaṇa-vacaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vibhīṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + vacas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (vibhīṣaṇasya vacaḥ); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• śrutvā: having heard
• śrutvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śru (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), ‘having heard’

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

• rākṣasa-īśvaraḥ: lord of the Rākṣasas
• rākṣasa-īśvaraḥ: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rākṣasa (प्रातिपदिक) + īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (rākṣasānām īśvaraḥ); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; apposition to रावणः

• visarjayitvā: having dismissed
• visarjayitvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-√sṛj (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive), ‘having dismissed/sent away’

• tān: those
• tān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• sarvān: all
• sarvān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन (agreeing with तान्)

• praviveśa: entered
• praviveśa: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√viś (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• svakam: his own
• svakam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: svaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (agreeing with गृहम्)

• gṛham: house, home
• gṛham: Karma (कर्म; destination)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gṛha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

Context

Having heard everything that was told by Vibheeshana, the Lord of Rakshasas sent away all and entered his palace.।। ityārṣēvālmīkīyēśrīmadrāmāyaṇēādikāvyēyuddhakāṇḍēnavamassargaḥ ।।This is the end of the ninth sarga of Yuddha Kanda of the first epic the holy Ramayana composed by sage Valmiki.

Characters & Entities

• Vibhīṣaṇa
• Rāvaṇa
• Rākṣasas

FAQs

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

A dharmic warning is implicit: merely hearing good counsel is insufficient—righteous action must follow. Ignoring or sidelining dharma-driven advice accelerates downfall.

What is the narrative situation?

After Vibhīṣaṇa’s admonition, Rāvaṇa ends the assembly by dismissing the gathered rākṣasas and withdraws into his palace.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The verse highlights a negative contrast: the lack of receptivity to dharmic counsel in leadership, shown through withdrawal without reform.