Shloka 9

विभीषणोपदेशः

Vibhīṣaṇa’s Counsel to Rāvaṇa and the Rākṣasa Court

Devanagari script

प्रहस्तवाक्यंत्वहितंनिशम्यविभीषणोराजहितानुकाङ्क्षी ।ततोमहार्थंवचनंबभाषेधर्मार्थकामेषुनिविष्टबुद्धि:।। ।।

Transliteration

prahastavākyaṃ tv ahitaṃ niśamya vibhīṣaṇo rājahitānukāṅkṣī | tato mahārthaṃ vacanaṃ babhāṣe dharmārthakāmeṣu niviṣṭabuddhiḥ ||

Translation

ครั้นวิภีษณะได้ยินถ้อยคำอันเป็นโทษของประหัสตะ ผู้มุ่งประโยชน์แท้แก่พระราชา และมีปัญญาตั้งมั่นในธรรม อรรถ และกาม จึงกล่าวถ้อยคำตอบอันลึกซึ้งและหนักแน่น

Word by Word

• प्रहस्तवाक्यम्: Prahastha's speech/words
• प्रहस्तवाक्यम्: कर्म (object of निशम्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रहस्त (प्रातिपदिक) + वाक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्तिः एकवचनम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (प्रहस्तस्य वाक्यम्) — neuter, nominative/accusative singular

• तु: but, however
• तु: सम्बन्ध/वाक्यसम्बन्ध (discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; निपातः/समुच्चय-व्यतिरेकसूचकः — indeclinable particle meaning 'but/however'

• अहितम्: harmful, not beneficial
• अहितम्: विशेषण (qualifier of object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अहित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्तिः एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (प्रहस्तवाक्यम् इति विशेष्यस्य) — neuter, nominative/accusative singular

• निशम्य: having heard
• निशम्य: पूर्वकाल (prior action to main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-√शम् (शम् धातुः) + ल्यप् (क्त्वा-प्रत्ययः)
• Form: अव्यय-भावे कृदन्तम्; ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्तम् (क्त्वार्थः) — gerund/absolutive: 'having heard/listened'

• विभीषणः: Vibhīṣaṇa
• विभीषणः: कर्ता (agent of बभाषे)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विभीषण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः एकवचनम् — masculine, nominative singular

• राजहितानुकाङ्क्षी: desiring the king's welfare
• राजहितानुकाङ्क्षी: विशेषण (qualifier of विभीषणः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: राज (प्रातिपदिक) + हित (प्रातिपदिक) + अनु-√काङ्क्ष् (काङ्क्ष् धातुः) + णिनि (इन्-प्रत्ययः)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः एकवचनम्; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (राजस्य हितम्) + कृदन्त-विशेषणम् (अनुकाङ्क्षी = इच्छुकः) — masculine, nominative singular

• ततः: then, thereafter
• ततः: अधिकरण (temporal setting)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; काल/अनुक्रमवाचकः अव्यय-प्रयोगः — indeclinable adverb: 'then/thereupon'

• महार्थम्: of great import, meaningful
• महार्थम्: विशेषण (qualifier of कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया-विभक्तिः एकवचनम्; कर्मधारयः (महान् अर्थः यस्य तत्) — neuter, accusative singular; विशेषणम् (वचनम् इति विशेष्यस्य)

• वचनम्: speech, words
• वचनम्: कर्म (object of बभाषे)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया-विभक्तिः एकवचनम् — neuter, accusative singular

• बभाषे: spoke, said
• बभाषे: क्रिया (main action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भाष् (भाष् धातुः)
• Form: लिट्-लकारः (परोक्षभूत/परफेक्ट्); प्रथमपुरुषः एकवचनम्; आत्मनेपदम् — Perfect (narrative past), 3rd person singular, middle voice

• धर्मार्थकामेषु: in dharma, artha, and kāma
• धर्मार्थकामेषु: अधिकरण (locus/domain: 'in regard to')
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक) + काम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे सप्तमी-विभक्तिः बहुवचनम्; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (धर्मश्च अर्थश्च कामश्च) — masculine, locative plural

• निविष्टबुद्धिः: one whose mind is firmly set (on them)
• निविष्टबुद्धिः: विशेषण (qualifier of कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नि-√विश् (विश् धातुः) + क्त (कृदन्त) + बुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः एकवचनम्; बहुव्रीहिः (निविष्टा बुद्धिः यस्य सः) — masculine, nominative singular; विशेषणम् (विभीषणः)

Context

After hearing the words said by Vibheeshana, Prahastha spoke these words, we do not know the fear of gods or Rakshasas or anyone.

Characters & Entities

• Prahasta
• Vibhīṣaṇa
• Dharma
• Artha
• Kāma

FAQs

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

True counsel serves rāja-hita (the king’s real good) and is anchored in dharma; it resists harmful rhetoric even when popular.

What is the narrative situation?

After Prahasta’s boastful rejection, the narration frames Vibhīṣaṇa as a principled adviser preparing a substantial response.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Statesmanlike wisdom: integrating dharma with practical aims (artha, kāma) for legitimate governance.