Shloka 12

विभीषणोपदेशः

Vibhishana’s Counsel to Ravana and the Catalogue of Omens

Devanagari script

सरावणंमहात्मानंविजनेमन्त्रिसन्निधौ ।उवाचहितमत्यर्थंवचनंहेतुनिश्चितम् ।।।।

Transliteration

sa rāvaṇaṃ mahātmānaṃ vijane mantrisannidhau | uvāca hitam atyarthaṃ vacanaṃ hetuniścitām ||

Translation

മന്ത്രിമാർ മാത്രം സമീപത്തിരിക്കെ മറ്റുള്ളവർ പിന്മാറിയപ്പോൾ, വിഭീഷണൻ മഹാത്മാവായ രാവണനോട് അത്യന്തം ഹിതകരവും യുക്തിനിശ്ചിതവുമായ വചനങ്ങൾ ഉച്ചരിച്ചു.

Word by Word

• सः: he (Vibhishana)
• सः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (Nominative/1st), एकवचनम्; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• रावणम्: Ravana
• रावणम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रावण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (Accusative/2nd), एकवचनम्

• महात्मानम्: great-souled
• महात्मानम्: कर्म (Karma/Object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (Accusative/2nd), एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (qualifier) रावणम् प्रति

• विजने: in a secluded place
• विजने: अधिकरण (Adhikarana/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः (Locative/7th), एकवचनम्; स्थानवाचक

• मन्त्रि-सन्निधौ: in the presence of ministers
• मन्त्रि-सन्निधौ: अधिकरण (Adhikarana/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्रिन् + सन्निधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः (Locative/7th), एकवचनम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (genitive determinative): मन्त्रिणां सन्निधिः

• उवाच: spoke
• उवाच: क्रिया (Kriya/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकारः (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd person), एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

• हितम्: beneficial
• हितम्: कर्म (Karma/Object-qualifier)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √धा/√हि-निहितार्थे, past passive participle sense)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (Accusative/2nd), एकवचनम्; वचनम् इति पदस्य विशेषणभावेन (as beneficial)

• अत्यर्थम्: very much, exceedingly
• अत्यर्थम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्यर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययम् (adverb)

• वचनम्: words, speech
• वचनम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (Accusative/2nd), एकवचनम्

• हेतु-निश्चितम्: decided with reasons
• हेतु-निश्चितम्: कर्म (Karma/Object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हेतु + निश्चित (प्रातिपदिक; निश्चित = नि+√चि (धातु) क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (Accusative/2nd), एकवचनम्; वचनम् इति पदस्य विशेषणम्; तत्पुरुषः (instrumental/associative sense): हेतुना निश्चितम्

Context

When none other than ministers were present, Vibheeshana spoke these meaningful words to the distinguished Ravana, decidedly wishing for welfare.

Characters & Entities

• Vibhīṣaṇa
• Rāvaṇa
• ministers (mantrin)

FAQs

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

Dharma here is the duty to offer truthful, welfare-oriented counsel—speech that is both beneficial (hita) and rational (hetu-niścita), even when power may resist it.

What is the narrative situation?

In Laṅkā, Vibhīṣaṇa chooses a controlled setting—privacy with ministers present—to deliver serious counsel to Rāvaṇa.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Vibhīṣaṇa’s prudence and moral courage: he speaks with reasoned clarity and aims at the king’s welfare rather than flattery.