Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 10, Shloka 2

विभीषणोपदेशः

Vibhishana’s Counsel to Ravana and the Catalogue of Omens

Devanagari script

शैलाग्रचयसङ्काशंशैलशृङ्गमिवोन्नतम् ।सुविभक्तमहाकक्षंमहाजनपरिग्रहम् ।।।।

Transliteration

śailāgracayasaṅkāśaṃ śailaśṛṅgam ivonnatam | suvibhaktamahākakṣaṃ mahājanaparigraham ||

Translation

रावणस्य प्रासादो गिरिशिखरसमूहसदृशः, शैलशृङ्गमिवोन्नतः; सुविभक्तमहाकक्षः, महाजनपरिग्रहः, समुन्नतः शुशुभे।

Word by Word

• śailāgracaya-saṅkāśam: resembling a heap of mountain-peaks
• śailāgracaya-saṅkāśam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śaila + agra + caya + saṅkāśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular); विशेषण (adjectival)

• śaila-śṛṅgam: a mountain-summit
• śaila-śṛṅgam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaila + śṛṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; उपमान (object of comparison)

• iva: like/as
• iva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-अव्यय (comparative particle)

• unnatam: lofty/elevated
• unnatam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: unnata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• su-vibhakta-mahā-kakṣam: having well-divided great enclosures/sections
• su-vibhakta-mahā-kakṣam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su + vibhakta + mahā + kakṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण; su- उपसर्गार्थ (well-)

• mahā-jana-parigraham: surrounded/attended by many people
• mahā-jana-parigraham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā + jana + parigraha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

Context

Like a lofty mountain top, and like a summit of a mountain, Ravana's palace was a supreme one, divided into many spacious sections and surrounded by many people.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa

FAQs

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

The verse sets a contrast often used in the Ramayana: outward grandeur does not guarantee inner righteousness; dharma is measured by conduct, not splendor.

What is the narrative situation?

The epic voice describes the imposing royal palace as the setting in which later counsel and conflict unfold.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Not a direct virtue, but a narrative emphasis on discernment: readers are invited to distinguish power and magnificence from dharmic legitimacy.