Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 16, Shloka 20
विभीषणोपदेशे रावणस्य परुषवाक्यम्
Ravana’s Harsh Reply to Vibhishana’s Counsel
सुनीतंहितकामेनवाक्यमुक्तंदशानन: ।नगृह्णन्त्यकृतात्मानःकालस्यवशमागताः ।।।।
sunītaṃ hitakāmena vākyam uktaṃ daśānana | na gṛhṇanty akṛtātmānaḥ kālasya vaśam āgatāḥ ||
தசானனே! உள்ளம் அடக்கமற்றவர்கள், காலத்தின் (மரணத்தின்) வசப்பட்டவர்கள், நன்மை நாடி உரைக்கப்படும் நன்நெறி கொண்ட பயனுள்ள சொற்களை ஏற்கமாட்டார்கள்.
"O Ten-headed king! Fallen under the sway of death, you are foolish. You do not understand the well prepared good words spoken by me wishing your welfare."
FAQs
Dharma requires self-mastery and receptivity to wise counsel; moral failure often begins when one refuses beneficial truth due to inner disorder and impending ruin.
Vibhīṣaṇa explains why Rāvaṇa rejects good advice: his mind is ungoverned and he is rushing toward destruction.
Wisdom in counsel—Vibhīṣaṇa frames the conflict as ethical blindness rather than mere political disagreement.