Shloka 27

विभीषणोपदेशः

Vibhishana’s Counsel to Ravana and the Catalogue of Omens

Devanagari script

हितंमहार्थंमृदुहेतुसंहितंव्यतीतकालायतिसम्प्रतिक्षमम् ।निशम्यतद्वाक्यमुपस्थितज्वरःप्रसङ्गवानुत्तरमेतदब्रवीत् ।।।।

Transliteration

hitaṁ mahārthaṁ mṛdu hetusaṁhitaṁ vyatīta-kālāyati-samprati-kṣamam |

niśamya tad vākyaṁ upasthita-jvaraḥ prasaṅgavān uttaram etad abravīt ||

Translation

ครั้นได้สดับถ้อยคำอันอ่อนโยน—ซึ่งเป็นคุณประโยชน์ มีความหมายใหญ่ ยึดเหตุผล และเหมาะแก่กาลอดีต ปัจจุบัน และอนาคต—ราวณะผู้ถูกครอบงำด้วยไข้แห่งโทสะ จึงตรัสตอบด้วยวาจาอันเป็นปฏิปักษ์

Word by Word

भयम्fear

नnot

पश्यामिI see/perceive

कुतश्चित्from anywhere/at all

अपिeven

अहम्I

नnot

राघवःRāghava (Rāma)

प्राप्स्यतिwill obtain

जातुever

मैथिलीम्Maithilī (Sītā)

सुरैःwith the gods

सहtogether with

इन्द्रैःwith Indra(s)

अपिeven

सङ्गरेin battle

कथम्how

ममof me/my

अग्रतःin front (of me)

स्थास्यतिwill stand/withstand

लक्ष्मणाग्रजःLakṣmaṇa’s elder brother (Rāma)

Context

"I do not perceive fear from anyone. Rama will not be able to get Mythili at any time. How can the elder brother of Lakshmana withstand me even if Indra and Devatas come (to his help) in battle"

Characters & Entities

Rāvaṇa

Vibhīṣaṇa (implied as giver of counsel)

FAQs

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

Dharma requires mastery over krodha (anger): anger distorts judgment and makes one reject reasoned, truthful counsel.

What is the narrative situation?

After listening to Vibhīṣaṇa’s well-reasoned advice, Rāvaṇa becomes enraged and prepares to answer harshly.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

By contrast, the virtue highlighted is reasonableness and gentleness in counsel—qualities the listener fails to honor.