Shloka 23
विभीषणोपदेशः
Vibhishana’s Counsel to Ravana and the Catalogue of Omens
इदंचयदिवामोहाल्लोभाद्वाव्याहृतंमया ।तत्रापिचमहाराज नदोषंकर्तुमर्हसि ।।।।
idaṁ ca yadi vā mohāl lobhād vā vyāhṛtaṁ mayā |
tratrāpi ca mahārāja na doṣaṁ kartum arhasi ||
ഇത് ഞാൻ മോഹത്താലോ ലോഭത്താലോ ഉച്ചരിച്ച വാക്കുകളായിരുന്നാലും, മഹാരാജാവേ, എനിക്കു കുറ്റം ചുമത്തരുത്.
All of us, the Rakshasas and Rakshasa women of the capital, even those in the harem, and all the common people are aware of this offence.
FAQs
Dharma in counsel includes restraint in judgment: a ruler should evaluate advice on its truth and benefit, not merely blame the adviser’s motives.
Vibhīṣaṇa anticipates Rāvaṇa’s suspicion and asks that his counsel not be dismissed through fault-finding.
Humility and sincerity—he submits his words without demanding personal credit.