Shloka 11

विभीषणोपदेशे रावणस्य परुषवाक्यम्

Ravana’s Harsh Reply to Vibhishana’s Counsel

Devanagari script

यथापुष्करपत्रेषुपतितास्तोयबिन्दवः ।नश्लेषमभिगच्छन्तितथाऽनार्येषुसङ्गतम् ।।।।

Transliteration

yathā puṣkara-patreṣu patitās toya-bindavaḥ | na śleṣam abhigacchanti tathā 'nāryeṣu saṅgatam || 6.16.11 ||

Translation

ดุจหยดน้ำที่ตกบนใบบัวไม่เกาะติด ฉันใด การคบหากับคนทรามก็ไม่ก่อให้เกิดความผูกพันแท้หรือมิตรภาพยั่งยืน ฉันนั้น

Word by Word

• यथा: just as
• यथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-अव्यय (comparative particle)

• पुष्करपत्रेषु: on lotus leaves
• पुष्करपत्रेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुष्कर + पत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः पुष्करस्य पत्रम् (lotus-leaf)

• पतिताः: fallen
• पतिताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पत् (धातु) + त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; बिन्दवः इति विशेषणम्

• तोयबिन्दवः: water-drops
• तोयबिन्दवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तोय + बिन्दु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः तोयस्य बिन्दवः (drops of water)

• न: do not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय

• श्लेषम्: adhesion/clinging
• श्लेषम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्लेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अभिगच्छन्ति: reach/attain
• अभिगच्छन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि + गम् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• तथा: so/likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: तुलना-अव्यय (so/likewise)

• अनार्येषु: among the ignoble/unworthy
• अनार्येषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• सङ्गतम्: association/friendship
• सङ्गतम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सम् + गम् (धातु) + त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP used as noun), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (predicate)

Context

"Just as drops of water that fall on lotus leaves do not adhere to each other, like wise however long you spend with an unworthy (relative) one, good friendship does not take place."

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Vibhīṣaṇa

FAQs

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

The teaching (though spoken harshly) aligns with a nīti idea: lasting friendship requires virtue; without dharmic character, association remains superficial and unreliable.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa insults Vibhīṣaṇa by implying that no genuine bond forms with the ‘unworthy,’ using a lotus-leaf simile.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

By contrast, the epic values steadfast friendship grounded in virtue and truth; the verse highlights how contempt and pride corrode kinship.