Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 9, Shloka 8

विभीषणोपदेशः

Vibhishana’s Counsel to Ravana

Devanagari script

अप्युपायैस्त्रिभिस्तातयोऽर्थःप्राप्तुंनशक्यते ।तस्यविक्रमकालांस्तान्युक्तानाहुर्मनीषिणः ।।।।

Transliteration

apy upāyais tribhis tāta yo 'rthaḥ prāptuṃ na śakyate |

tasya vikramakālāṃs tān yuktān āhur manīṣiṇaḥ ||

Translation

ข้าแต่พระองค์ ผู้มีปัญญา ภารกิจใดที่ไม่อาจสำเร็จได้ด้วยอุบายทั้งสาม นักปราชญ์ย่อมกล่าวว่า เวลานั้นแหละคือเวลาแห่งการใช้ความกล้าหาญ

Word by Word

• अपि: even/also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपेक्षार्थक-अव्यय (also/even)

• उपायैः: by means/strategies
• उपायैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपाय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• त्रिभिः: by three
• त्रिभिः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (संख्याप्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; संख्यावाचक-विशेषणम् उपायैः इति

• तात: O dear/father
• तात: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

• यः: which/that (which)
• यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सम्बन्धक-सर्वनाम (relative pronoun)

• अर्थः: aim/object
• अर्थः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• प्राप्तुम्: to obtain
• प्राप्तुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/infinitival purpose)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-आप् (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (Infinitive), धातु: आप्, उपसर्ग: प्र-; अर्थे: 'to obtain'

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negation)

• शक्यते: is possible
• शक्यते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शक् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), आत्मनेपद; प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगः (passive sense): 'is possible'

• तस्य: of him/of that
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• विक्रमकालान्: times for heroic action
• विक्रमकालान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विक्रम + काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: विक्रमस्य कालाः (times for valor/enterprise)

• तान्: those
• तान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• युक्तान्: appropriate
• युक्तान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युक्त (प्रातिपदिक; √युज्-जन्य कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषणम् (proper/appropriate) विक्रमकालान् इति

• आहुः: have said/call
• आहुः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अह् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; धातु: अह् (to say)

• मनीषिणः: the wise
• मनीषिणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनीषिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

Context

"Dear father, intelligent people say that an act which cannot be accomplished by the three means (Sama - Conciliation, Dana - Gift, Bheda - Sowing dissension), should only be accomplished diligently by one's heroic deed. Therefore, we should think of war only after the above three means are employed."

Characters & Entities

• Vibhīṣaṇa
• Rāvaṇa

FAQs

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

War/force is ethically last: dharma in governance requires exhausting peaceful and strategic means first; only when they fail does righteous valor become appropriate.

What is the narrative situation?

Vibhīṣaṇa advises Rāvaṇa on proper policy: attempt conciliation, gifts, and division before resorting to battle.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Practical wisdom (nīti) aligned with dharma—Vibhīṣaṇa advocates measured, rule-based decision-making rather than impulsive aggression.