Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 15, Shloka 1

विभीषण–इन्द्रजित् संवादः

Vibhishana and Indrajit: Counsel, Boast, and Rebuttal

Devanagari script

बृहस्पतेस्तुल्यमतेर्वचस्तन्निशम्ययत्नेनविभीषणस्य ।ततोमहात्मावचनंबभाषेतत्रेन्द्रजिन्नैरृतयूथमुख्यः ।।6.15.1।।

Transliteration

bṛhaspates tulyamater vacas tan niśamya yatnena vibhīṣaṇasya | tato mahātmā vacanaṃ babhāṣe tatrendrajit nairṛtayūthamukhyaḥ ||

Translation

Setelah mendengar dengan penuh perhatian kata-kata Vibhīṣaṇa—bijaksana setara Bṛhaspati—maka Indrajit, berhati mulia, ketua bala rākṣasa, pun berkata di situ.

Word by Word

• बृहस्पतेः: of Bṛhaspati
• बृहस्पतेः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बृहस्पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive case), एकवचन (Singular), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine)

• तुल्यमतेः: of one whose intellect is equal (to his)
• तुल्यमतेः: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तुल्य-मतिः (प्रातिपदिक; कर्मधारयः: तुल्या मतिः)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन (Singular), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine)

• वचः: speech; words
• वचः: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter)

• तत्: that
• तत्: विशेषण (Determiner of वचः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter)

• निशम्य: having heard; having listened
• निशम्य: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial to main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-√शम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund), अव्यय-प्रयोग (indeclinable usage); पूर्वकालिक-क्रिया (prior action)

• यत्नेन: with effort; carefully
• यत्नेन: करण (Instrument/means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यत्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन (Singular), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine)

• विभीषणस्य: of Vibhīṣaṇa
• विभीषणस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विभीषण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन (Singular), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine)

• ततः: then; thereafter
• ततः: देश/काल-अधिकरण (Adverbial: then/thereupon)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Indeclinable); क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• महात्मा: the great-souled one
• महात्मा: कर्ता (Agent/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine)

• वचनम्: a statement; words
• वचनम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter)

• बभाषे: spoke
• बभाषे: क्रिया (Main action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भाष् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद-रूप (active usage)

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: अधिकरण (Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Indeclinable); देशवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb)

• इन्द्रजित्: Indrajit
• इन्द्रजित्: कर्ता (Apposition to महात्मा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्द्रजित् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine)

• नैरृत-यूथ-मुख्यः: the chief of the rākṣasa troop
• नैरृत-यूथ-मुख्यः: कर्ता (Apposition/identifier of Indrajit)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नैरृत (प्रातिपदिक) + यूथ (प्रातिपदिक) + मुख्य (प्रातिपदिक); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: नैरृतानां यूथस्य मुख्यः
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine)

Context

Thus spoke Indrajith, the great leader of the Rakshasa army, having heard the words spoken by the highly intelligent Vibheeshana who was equal to Brhaspathi in wisdom.

Characters & Entities

• Vibhīṣaṇa
• Bṛhaspati
• Indrajit
• Rākṣasa host (nairṛta-yūtha)

FAQs

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

The verse underscores that wise counsel should be heard with attention; dharma begins with willingness to listen before choosing action.

What is the narrative situation?

Transition into Sarga 15: after Vibhīṣaṇa’s counsel is heard, Indrajit prepares to respond in the court.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Attentive deliberation (śravaṇa and vicāra) as a prerequisite for responsible speech and decision-making.