Shloka 12

विभीषणोपदेशः

Vibhīṣaṇa’s Counsel to Rāvaṇa and the Rākṣasa Court

Devanagari script

धर्मप्रधानस्यमहारथस्यइक्ष्वाकुवंशप्रभवस्यराज्ञः ।पुरोस्यदेवाश्चतथाविधस्यकृत्येषुशक्तस्यभवन्तिमूढा ।।।।

Transliteration

dharmapradhānasya mahārathasya ikṣvākuvaṁśa-prabhavasya rājñaḥ | puro ’sya devāś ca tathāvidhasya kṛtyeṣu śaktasya bhavanti mūḍhāḥ ||

Translation

ഇക്ഷ്വാകുവംശജനായ, മഹാരഥനായ, ധർമ്മത്തെ മുൻപിൽ വെക്കുന്ന, നിർണായക കൃത്യങ്ങളിൽ ശക്തനായ ആ രാജാവിന്റെ മുമ്പിൽ ദേവന്മാരും ഒരിക്കൽ മോഹിതരായി; അങ്ങനെയിരിക്കെ നിങ്ങൾ അവനോടു വിരോധമായി എന്ത് സാധിപ്പിക്കും?

Word by Word

• धर्मप्रधानस्य: of the one for whom righteousness is foremost
• धर्मप्रधानस्य: सम्बन्ध (genitive relation/possessor)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्म + प्रधान (प्रातिपदिके; समासः)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे षष्ठी-विभक्तिः एकवचनम् (genitive singular masculine); विशेषणम्

• महारथस्य: of the great charioteer / great warrior
• महारथस्य: सम्बन्ध (genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महारथ (प्रातिपदिकम्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे षष्ठी-विभक्तिः एकवचनम् (genitive singular masculine)

• इक्ष्वाकुवंशप्रभवस्य: of the one born in the Ikṣvāku lineage
• इक्ष्वाकुवंशप्रभवस्य: सम्बन्ध (genitive relation)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इक्ष्वाकु + वंश + प्रभव (प्रातिपदिके; समासः)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे षष्ठी-विभक्तिः एकवचनम् (genitive singular masculine); विशेषणम्

• राज्ञः: of the king
• राज्ञः: सम्बन्ध (genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिकम्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे षष्ठी-विभक्तिः एकवचनम् (genitive singular masculine)

• पुरः: formerly / earlier
• पुरः: क्रियाविशेषण (adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरः (अव्ययम्)
• Form: अव्ययम्; क्रियाविशेषणम् (adverb: 'formerly/previously/in front')

• अस्य: of him / of this (person)
• अस्य: सम्बन्ध (genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिकम्)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्गे षष्ठी-विभक्तिः एकवचनम् (genitive singular; pronoun)

• देवाः: the gods
• देवाः: कर्ता (agent/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिकम्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः बहुवचनम् (nominative plural masculine); कर्तृपदम्

• च: and / even
• च: समुच्चय (connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्ययम्)
• Form: अव्ययम्; समुच्चयार्थक-निपातः (conjunction: 'and/even')

• तथाविधस्य: of such a kind / of such a nature
• तथाविधस्य: सम्बन्ध (genitive relation)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तथा + विध (प्रातिपदिके; समासः)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे षष्ठी-विभक्तिः एकवचनम् (genitive singular masculine); विशेषणम्

• कृत्येषु: in actions / in duties / in matters to be done
• कृत्येषु: अधिकरण (locus: 'in/with regard to')
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृत्य (प्रातिपदिकम्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे सप्तमी-विभक्तिः बहुवचनम् (locative plural neuter)

• शक्तस्य: of the capable/competent one
• शक्तस्य: सम्बन्ध (genitive relation)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शक्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिकम्; √शक् धातोः क्त-प्रत्ययान्तः)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे षष्ठी-विभक्तिः एकवचनम् (genitive singular masculine); क्त-प्रत्ययान्त-विशेषणम् (past participial adjective: 'able/capable')

• भवन्ति: become / are
• भवन्ति: क्रिया (verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू (धातुः) + लट्
• Form: लट्-लकारः, प्रथम-पुरुषः, बहुवचनम् (present indicative, 3rd person plural)

• मूढाः: bewildered / deluded
• मूढाः: कर्ता-विशेषण (predicate adjective of the subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मूढ (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिकम्; √मुह् धातोः क्त-प्रत्ययान्तः)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः बहुवचनम् (nominative plural masculine); कर्तृविशेषणम्

Context

"One to whom righteousness is foremost, who is capable of fighting with eleven thousand warriors as charioteer, (like Dasaratha) who is a glorious scion of Ikshvaku dynasty, who is highly capable in war, in front of whom even gods got bewildered earlier. What can be done by you?"

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Ikṣvāku dynasty
• Devas (gods)

FAQs

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

True strength is grounded in dharma: Rāma’s power is portrayed as inseparable from righteousness, implying that unrighteous aggression collapses before dharmic authority.

What is the narrative situation?

In Laṅkā’s war-council atmosphere, a speaker warns that Rāma’s prowess and dharmic stature have overwhelmed even divine opponents, making boasting against him reckless.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s dharma-niṣṭhā (steadfast prioritizing of righteousness) combined with effective, purposeful action (kṛtyeṣu śakti).