Shloka 8

विभीषण–इन्द्रजित् संवादः

Vibhishana and Indrajit: Counsel, Boast, and Rebuttal

Devanagari script

अथेन्द्रकल्पस्यदुरासदस्यमहौजसस्तद्वचनंनिशम्य ।ततोमहार्थवचनंबभाषेविभीषणश्शस्त्रभृतांवरिष्ठः ।।6.15.8।।

Transliteration

athendra-kalpasya durāsadasya mahaujasas tad-vacanaṃ niśamya | tato mahārtha-vacanaṃ babhāṣe vibhīṣaṇaḥ śastra-bhṛtāṃ variṣṭhaḥ || 6.15.8 ||

Translation

ครั้นได้ฟังถ้อยคำของนักรบผู้เข้าถึงได้ยาก ผู้ประหนึ่งพระอินทร์และทรงเดชานุภาพยิ่งนั้นแล้ว วิภีษณะผู้เป็นเลิศในหมู่ผู้ถือศัสตรา จึงกล่าววาจาเป็นคำแนะนำอันลึกซึ้งและเกื้อกูลยิ่ง

Word by Word

अथthen; thereupon

इन्द्रकल्पस्यof the Indra-like (one)

दुरासदस्यof the unapproachable / hard-to-assail (one)

महौजसःof the very mighty (one)

तत्that

वचनम्speech; words

निशम्यhaving heard; after listening to

ततःthereupon; then

महार्थवचनम्a speech of great import / beneficial counsel

बभाषेspoke; said

विभीषणःVibhīṣaṇa

शस्त्रभृताम्of weapon-bearers; of warriors

वरिष्ठःthe best; foremost

Context

Vibheeshana, the best among wielders of weapons, spoke the following words of highly beneficial advice after hearing the words of dangerous Indrajith, the foremost of the warriors.

Characters & Entities

Indra

Indrajit (as indra-kalpa, implied)

Vibhīṣaṇa

FAQs

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

Dharma values timely, beneficial counsel (hita-vacana), especially when power and pride are rising; wise speech aims at welfare, not flattery.

What is the narrative situation?

After Indrajit’s boast, the narration introduces Vibhīṣaṇa’s response as weighty advice.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Vibhīṣaṇa’s virtue of prudent counsel—speaking what is beneficial and true even in a hostile court.