Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 16, Shloka 19

विभीषणोपदेशे रावणस्य परुषवाक्यम्

Ravana’s Harsh Reply to Vibhishana’s Counsel

Devanagari script

सत्वंभ्राताऽसिमेराजन्ब्रूहिमांयद्यदिच्छसि ।ज्येष्टोमान्यःपितृसमोनचधर्मपथेस्थितः ।।।।इदंतुपरुषंवाक्यंनक्षमाम्यग्रजस्यते ।

Transliteration

sa tvaṃ bhrātā ’si me rājan brūhi māṃ yadyad icchasi | jyeṣṭho mānyaḥ pitṛsamo na ca dharmapathe sthitaḥ || idaṃ tu paruṣaṃ vākyaṃ na kṣamāmy agrajasya te |

Translation

Ikaw ay aking kapatid, O Hari; sabihin mo sa akin ang anumang nais mo. Bilang nakatatanda, ikaw ay dapat igalang, na gaya ng ama; ngunit hindi ka nakatindig sa landas ng dharma. Datapwat ang marahas mong pananalita—hindi ko ito mapatatawad, kahit mula pa sa aking nakatatandang kapatid.

Word by Word

• sunītam: well-guided; well-said
• sunītam: Karma (कर्म/object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sunīta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (of vākyam)

• hita-kāmena: by one wishing (your) good
• hita-kāmena: Karana (करण/instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hita (प्रातिपदिक) + kāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (hitaṃ kāmayate iti); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; करण/हेतु (by one desiring welfare)

• vākyam: speech
• vākyam: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vākya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• uktam: spoken
• uktam: Karma (कर्म/object-qualifier)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (वच्) (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त, क्त-प्रत्यय; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (spoken)

• daśānanaḥ: Daśānana (ten-faced Rāvaṇa)
• daśānanaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daśa (संख्या) + ānana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास (daśa ānanāni yasya saḥ); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय

• gṛhṇanti: accept; heed
• gṛhṇanti: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: grah (ग्रह्) (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (present), परस्मैपद; प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन

• akṛtātmānaḥ: the undisciplined (people)
• akṛtātmānaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: a-kṛta (प्रातिपदिक) + ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास (kṛta ātmā yasya na saḥ = undisciplined); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• kālasya: of Time/Death
• kālasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• vaśam: control; sway
• vaśam: Gati/Karma (गति/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; गत्यर्थे (into the control)

• āgatāḥ: having come (under)
• āgatāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/qualifier)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā + gam (गम्) (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त, क्त-प्रत्यय; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्तरि (having come)

Context

"One can live with a known enemy or even with an angry and venomous serpent but cannot stay together with one who professes to be a friend and devoted to an enemy."

Characters & Entities

• Vibhīṣaṇa
• Rāvaṇa

FAQs

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

Respect for elders is dharma, but it is not blind obedience; when an elder abandons dharma and commits injustice, he is still answerable to moral truth.

What is the narrative situation?

Vibhīṣaṇa responds to Rāvaṇa’s insult, affirming their kinship and due respect, yet condemning Rāvaṇa’s deviation from dharma and refusing to accept abusive speech.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Integrity with restraint—Vibhīṣaṇa balances reverence for family hierarchy with unwavering commitment to righteousness.