Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 84, Shloka 2

निकुम्भिला-यज्ञविघ्नोपदेशः

Counsel to Disrupt the Nikumbhilā Rite

Devanagari script

नानाप्रहरणैर्वीरैश्चतुर्भिस्सचिवैर्वृत: ।नीलाञ्जनचयाकारैर्मातङ्गैरिवयूथप ।।।।

Transliteration

nānāpraharaṇair vīraiś caturbhiḥ sacivair vṛtaḥ |

nīlāñjanacayākārair mātaṅgair iva yūthapa ||

Translation

விபீஷணன் பலவகை ஆயுதம் தாங்கிய நான்கு வீர அமைச்சர்களால் சூழப்பட்டவனாய், நீலாஞ்சனக் குவியலைப் போல் கருமை நிற யானைகள் சூழ்ந்த யானைக் கூட்டத் தலைவனைப் போல மகாத்மா ஸ்ரீராமரிடம் அணுகினான்; அப்போது கண்ணீரால் மறைந்த கண்களுடன் இருந்த வானரப் படைகளையும் அவன் கண்டான்.

Word by Word

• nānāpraharaṇaiḥ: with various weapons
• nānāpraharaṇaiḥ: Karaṇa/Hetu (करण/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nānā + praharaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya (कर्मधारय) ‘various weapons’; Napumsaka, Tṛtīyā, Bahuvacana

• vīraiḥ: by/with heroes
• vīraiḥ: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vīra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Bahuvacana

• caturbhiḥ: with four
• caturbhiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: catur (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Bahuvacana; numeral adjective qualifying sacivaiḥ

• sacivaiḥ: with ministers
• sacivaiḥ: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saciva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Bahuvacana

• vṛtaḥ: surrounded
• vṛtaḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa/Predicative (विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vṛta (vṛ धातु, क्त; कृदन्त)
• Form: Kta-participle, Pumliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; predicate ‘surrounded’

• nīlāñjanacayākāraiḥ: dark like heaps of collyrium
• nīlāñjanacayākāraiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nīla + añjana + caya + ākāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa chain: ‘nīla-añjana-caya-ākāra’ = ‘having the appearance of a heap of dark collyrium’; Pumliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Bahuvacana; qualifies mātaṅgaiḥ

• mātaṅgaiḥ: with elephants
• mātaṅgaiḥ: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mātaṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Bahuvacana

• iva: like
• iva: Upamā (उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Upamā-avyaya (उपमा-अव्यय)

• yūthapa: O leader of a troop
• yūthapa: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yūthapa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga, Sambodhana (vocative), Ekavacana; address

Context

"Though I pleaded Ravana to return Vaidehi for his welfare, he did not accept my word."

Characters & Entities

• Vibhīṣaṇa
• Rāma (Rāghava)
• Vānaras

FAQs

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

Dharma here is expressed through loyal counsel and responsible leadership: Vibhīṣaṇa approaches Rāma not as a mere ally, but as a principled adviser coming to address a crisis with orderly support.

What is the narrative situation?

After a distressing battlefield deception, Vibhīṣaṇa comes to Rāma with his ministers and observes the Vānara army’s grief and confusion.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Vibhīṣaṇa’s steadiness and duty-bound counsel—approaching the righteous side with preparedness and clarity in a moment of collective sorrow.