Shloka 13

विभीषणोपदेशः

Vibhīṣaṇa’s Counsel to Rāvaṇa and the Rākṣasa Court

Devanagari script

तीक्ष्णानतायत्तवकङ्कपत्रादुरासदाराघवविप्रमुक्ताः ।भित्वाशरीरंप्रविशन्तिबाणाःप्रहस्ततेनैवविकत्थसेत्वम् ।।।।

Transliteration

tīkṣṇā natāyatta tava kaṅka-patrā durāsadā rāghava-vipramuktāḥ | bhitvā śarīraṁ praviśanti bāṇāḥ prahasta tenaiva vikatthase tvam ||

Translation

โอ้ปรหัสดะ ศรอันคมกริบและมรณันติก—ประดับขนกังกะ และถูกปล่อยโดยราฆวะ—จักเจาะทะลุร่างของเจ้าแล้วฝังลึกเข้าไป เมื่อความจริงเช่นนี้อยู่ตรงหน้า เหตุใดเจ้าจึงยังโอ้อวด?

Word by Word

• तीक्ष्णाः: sharp
• तीक्ष्णाः: कर्तृ-विशेषणम् (of बाणाः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तीक्ष्ण (प्रातिपदिकम्)
• Form: विशेषणम्; पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः; बहुवचनम् (masc. nom. pl.)

• नतायत्तवकङ्कपत्राः: having bent-controlled (curved/aimed) kanka-feathers (i.e., feathered with kanka bird plumes)
• नतायत्तवकङ्कपत्राः: कर्तृ-विशेषणम् (of बाणाः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नत + आयत्त + व + कङ्क + पत्र (प्रातिपदिकानि); समस्तपदम्
• Form: समासः (बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः); विशेषणम्; पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः; बहुवचनम् (masc. nom. pl.)

• दुरासदाः: hard to withstand / formidable
• दुरासदाः: कर्तृ-विशेषणम् (of बाणाः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुरासद (प्रातिपदिकम्)
• Form: विशेषणम्; पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः; बहुवचनम् (masc. nom. pl.)

• राघवविप्रमुक्ताः: released by Rāghava (Rama)
• राघवविप्रमुक्ताः: कर्तृ-विशेषणम् (of बाणाः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: राघव + विप्रमुक्त (कृदन्तः; √मुच् (मुचँ) धातुः + वि-प्र उपसर्गौ; क्त-प्रत्ययः); समस्तपदम्
• Form: समासः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: राघवेन विप्रमुक्ताः); क्त-प्रत्ययान्त-भूतपूर्वकर्मणि कृदन्तविशेषणम्; पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः; बहुवचनम् (masc. nom. pl.)

• भित्वा: having pierced / tearing through
• भित्वा: पूर्वकालक्रिया (prior action to प्रविशन्ति)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: √भिद् (भिदँ) धातुः
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययम् (absolutive/gerund): ‘having pierced’

• शरीरम्: body
• शरीरम्: कर्म (object of भित्वा/प्रविशन्ति)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरीर (प्रातिपदिकम्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया-विभक्तिः; एकवचनम् (neut. acc. sg.)

• प्रविशन्ति: enter / penetrate
• प्रविशन्ति: क्रिया (main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √विश् (विशँ) धातुः + प्र-उपसर्गः
• Form: लट्-लकारः (present); परस्मैपदम्; प्रथमपुरुषः; बहुवचनम् (3rd pl.)

• बाणाः: arrows
• बाणाः: कर्ता (subject of प्रविशन्ति)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाण (प्रातिपदिकम्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः; बहुवचनम् (masc. nom. pl.)

• प्रहस्त: O Prahasta
• प्रहस्त: सम्बोधन (addressed person)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रहस्त (प्रातिपदिकम्)
• Form: सम्बोधन-प्रथमा; एकवचनम् (voc. sg.)

• तेन: therefore / by that (reason)
• तेन: करण/हेतु (instrument/cause, adverbial)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिकम्)
• Form: सर्वनाम; तृतीया-विभक्तिः; एकवचनम् (instr. sg.); ‘by that/therefore/for that reason’ (contextual)

• एव: indeed / just
• एव: सम्बन्ध-निपात (emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्ययम्)
• Form: निपातः (particle of emphasis)

• विकत्थसे: you boast
• विकत्थसे: क्रिया (main verb, 2nd person)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कथ् (कथँ) धातुः + वि-उपसर्गः; आत्मनेपदम्
• Form: लट्-लकारः (present); आत्मनेपदम्; मध्यमपुरुषः; एकवचनम् (2nd sg.)

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: कर्ता (subject of विकत्थसे)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिकम्)
• Form: सर्वनाम; प्रथमा-विभक्तिः; एकवचनम् (nom. sg.)

Context

"Prahastha! Sharp arrows of Rama fixed with feathers of Kanka birds are dangerous arrows. They will tear your body and penetrate. What are you boasting yourself?"

Characters & Entities

• Prahasta
• Rāma (Rāghava)

FAQs

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

Boasting (mada) without discernment violates prudent conduct; dharma includes sober self-assessment and responsible speech, especially in matters of violence.

What is the narrative situation?

A Laṅkā leader (Prahasta) is rebuked: the speaker stresses the concrete danger posed by Rāma’s arrows to curb reckless confidence.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Prudence and truthfulness in counsel—speaking an unpleasant truth to prevent self-destructive action.