Shloka 19

विभीषणोपदेशः

Vibhishana’s Counsel to Ravana and the Catalogue of Omens

Devanagari script

वायसाःसङ्घशःक्रूराव्याहरन्तिसमन्ततः ।समवेताश्चदृश्यन्तेविमानाग्रेषुसङ्घशः ।।।।

Transliteration

vāyasāḥ saṅghaśaḥ krūrā vyāharanti samantataḥ | samavetāś ca dṛśyante vimānāgreṣu saṅghaśaḥ ||

Translation

ฝูงกาอำมหิตรวมกันเป็นหมู่ ส่งเสียงกร้าวกระด้างรอบด้าน; และยังเห็นพวกมันชุมนุมเป็นกลุ่มๆ เกาะกันเป็นฝูงบนยอดวิมานทั้งหลาย

Word by Word

वायसाःcrows

सङ्घशःin flocks

क्रूराःcruel, harsh

व्याहरन्तिcry out, utter

समन्ततःall around

समवेताःgathered together

चand

दृश्यन्तेare seen

विमान-अग्रेषुon the tops of aerial chariots

सङ्घशःin groups

Context

Wild crows are seen in flocks all over the top of aerial chariot sounding harsh gathered in groups.

Characters & Entities

vimāna (aerial palace/chariot)

Vibhīṣaṇa

Rāvaṇa

FAQs

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

Ignoring dharma invites public and cosmic warning signs; ominous imagery urges a ruler to heed truth before disaster becomes inevitable.

What is the narrative situation?

Vibhīṣaṇa describes ominous bird-behavior around royal structures, intensifying the sense of looming catastrophe.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Alertness to moral signals: Vibhīṣaṇa connects external disturbances with internal ethical failure.