Shloka 21

विभीषणोपदेशः

Vibhishana’s Counsel to Ravana

Devanagari script

पुराशरत्सूर्यमरीचिसन्निभान्नवाग्रपुङ्खान् सुदृढान्नृपात्मजः ।सृजत्यमोघान्विशिखान्वधायतेप्रदीयतांदशरधायमैथिली ।।।।

Transliteration

purā śaratsūryamarīcisannibhān navāgrapuṅkhān sudṛḍhān nṛpātmajaḥ | sṛjaty amoghān viśikhān vadhāya te pradīyatāṃ daśarathāya maithilī ||

Translation

Sebelum putera itu melepaskan ke atasmu anak-anak panahnya yang tidak pernah meleset—kukuh, berbulu baharu, bersinar laksana sinar matahari musim luruh—kembalikanlah Maithilī kepada putera Daśaratha.

Word by Word

• purā: before, formerly
• purā: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: purā (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (formerly/before)

• śarat-sūrya-marīci-sannibhān: like the rays of the autumn sun
• śarat-sūrya-marīci-sannibhān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śarat (प्रातिपदिक) + sūrya (प्रातिपदिक) + marīci (प्रातिपदिक) + sannibha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (śaradi sūryasya marīcayaḥ iva sannibhāḥ); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन (agreeing with विशिखान्)

• nava-agra-puṅkhān: with fresh tips and feathers/shafts
• nava-agra-puṅkhān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nava (प्रातिपदिक) + agra (प्रातिपदिक) + puṅkha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (navaṃ agraṃ puṅkhaṃ ca yeṣām); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• su-dṛḍhān: very firm
• su-dṛḍhān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su (अव्यय) + dṛḍha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• nṛpa-ātmajaḥ: the king's son
• nṛpa-ātmajaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nṛpa (प्रातिपदिक) + ātmaja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (nṛpasya ātmajaḥ); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• sṛjati: releases, shoots
• sṛjati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √sṛj (धातु)
• Form: लट्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• amoghān: unfailing
• amoghān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: amogha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• viśikhān: arrows
• viśikhān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viśikha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• vadhāya: for killing
• vadhāya: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vadha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन; dative of purpose

• te: for you, to you
• te: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: चतुर्थी, एकवचन; enclitic

• pradīyatām: let be restored/given
• pradīyatām: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√dā (धातु)
• Form: लोट्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि (passive)

• daśarathāya: to Daśaratha's (son)
• daśarathāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daśaratha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन

• maithilī: Maithilī (Sītā)
• maithilī: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maithilī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Context

"You may restore Rama's Mythili, before the emperor Dasaratha's son sends forth solid unfailing arrows shining like autumnal Sun provided with fresh heads and shafts for killing you."

Characters & Entities

• Rāma (Daśaratha’s son)
• Daśaratha
• Maithilī (Sītā)
• Arrows (viśikha)

FAQs

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

Dharma teaches timely restitution: correcting injustice before it hardens into violent consequence. Returning Sītā is presented as the righteous, peace-preserving choice.

What is the narrative situation?

Vibhīṣaṇa presses urgency: if Rāvaṇa delays, Rāma’s inevitable, lethal response will follow.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Prudence joined to righteousness—choosing peace through dharma rather than prideful escalation.