Shloka 6

लङ्काद्वारव्यूहवर्णनम् / Disposition at the Gates of Lanka

Devanagari script

तथातेषुब्रुवाणेषुरावणावरजोऽब्रवीत् ।वाक्यमग्राम्यपदवत्पुष्कलार्धंविभीषणः ।।।।

Transliteration

tathā teṣu bruvāṇeṣu rāvaṇāvarajo ’bravīt | vākyam agrāmya-padavat puṣkalārthaṃ vibhīṣaṇaḥ ||

Translation

അവർ തമ്മിൽ സംസാരിക്കുമ്പോൾ, രാവണന്റെ ഇളയ സഹോദരനായ വിഭീഷണൻ ഗ്രാമ്യതയില്ലാത്ത, അർത്ഥസമ്പന്നവും വിനയപൂർണ്ണവുമായ വാക്കുകളാൽ അവരെ അഭിസംബോധന ചെയ്തു.

Word by Word

• तथा: thus, in that manner
• तथा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकार/रीति-अव्यय (adverb of manner)

• तेषु: among them
• तेषु: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुल्लिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी विभक्ति (Locative/7th), बहुवचन (Plural)

• ब्रुवाणेषु: while (they were) speaking
• ब्रुवाणेषु: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: brū (धातु) + śatṛ (शतृ-प्रत्यय)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शतृ-कृदन्त (present active participle); पुल्लिङ्ग; सप्तमी विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘ब्रुवत्’ = speaking

• रावणावरजः: Rāvaṇa’s younger brother
• रावणावरजः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāvaṇa + avaraja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative): ‘रावणस्य अवरजः’; पुल्लिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• अब्रवीत्: spoke
• अब्रवीत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: brū (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/past); परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• वाक्यम्: a statement, words
• वाक्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vākya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• अग्राम्यपदवत्: with courteous (non-vulgar) wording
• अग्राम्यपदवत्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-grāmya + pada + vat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नञ्-तत्पुरुष: ‘अग्राम्यं पदं यस्य तत्’ (having non-vulgar/courteous words); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन; वाक्यम् इति विशेषणम्

• पुष्कलार्थम्: rich in meaning
• पुष्कलार्थम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: puṣkala + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय: ‘पुष्कलः अर्थः’ (abundant meaning); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन; वाक्यम् इति विशेषणम्

• विभीषणः: Vibhīṣaṇa
• विभीषणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vibhīṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

Context

"This Lanka city ruled by Ravana is seen. It appears that this city is unconquerable to Devas, demons and Gandharvas also by the immortals."

Characters & Entities

• Vibhīṣaṇa
• Rāvaṇa

FAQs

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

Dharma includes vāg-dharma (ethical speech): truth and strategy should be expressed with restraint, clarity, and civility.

What is the narrative situation?

The narrative turns to Vibhīṣaṇa as he begins to brief Rāma’s side with informed counsel about Laṅkā.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Vibhīṣaṇa’s integrity and refined counsel—he communicates weighty truths without harshness.