Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 16, Shloka 1

विभीषणोपदेशे रावणस्य परुषवाक्यम्

Ravana’s Harsh Reply to Vibhishana’s Counsel

Devanagari script

सुनिविष्टंहितंवाक्यमुक्तवन्तंविभीषणम् ।अब्रवीत्परुषंवाक्यंरावणःकालचोदितः ।।।।

Transliteration

suniviṣṭaṃ hitaṃ vākyam uktavantaṃ vibhīṣaṇam | abravīt paruṣaṃ vākyam rāvaṇaḥ kāla-coditaḥ || 6.16.1 ||

Translation

Dẫu Vibhīṣaṇa đã thưa lời vững chãi, lợi ích và hợp đạo, Rāvaṇa—bị nghiệp số thúc bách, tử kỳ gần kề—liền đáp lại bằng lời thô bạo, cay nghiệt.

Word by Word

• suniviṣṭam: well-considered / well-set
• suniviṣṭam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su-ni-viṣṭa (कृदन्त; √viś/viṣ् (धातु) + नि + सु, क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त; qualifies "vākyam"

• hitam: beneficial
• hitam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hita (कृदन्त; √dhā (धातु) + हि- (हित), क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; qualifies "vākyam"

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

• uktavantam: who had spoken
• uktavantam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: uktavant (कृदन्त; √vac (धातु) + क्तवतुँ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्तवतुँ-प्रत्ययान्त (past active participle); qualifies "vibhīṣaṇam"

• vibhīṣaṇam: Vibhīṣaṇa
• vibhīṣaṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vibhīṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• abravīt: said/spoke
• abravīt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √brū (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• paruṣam: harsh
• paruṣam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: paruṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; qualifies second "vākyam"

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

• rāvaṇaḥ: Rāvaṇa
• rāvaṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāvaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• kālacoditaḥ: impelled by Time/Death
• kālacoditaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kāla + codita (कृदन्त; √cud (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (कालेन चोदितः = urged by Time/Death); qualifies "rāvaṇaḥ"

Context

While Vibheeshana advised in Ravana's favour with all good intention, Ravana who was under the influence of death spoke harsh words.

Characters & Entities

• Vibhīṣaṇa
• Rāvaṇa
• Kāla (Time/Death, personified)

FAQs

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

Dharma esteems accepting beneficial truth (hita) even when unpleasant; rejecting good counsel and responding with harshness accelerates moral and practical ruin.

What is the narrative situation?

After Vibhīṣaṇa offers well-meant advice, Rāvaṇa answers angrily, showing he is no longer receptive to righteous counsel.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

By contrast: Vibhīṣaṇa’s well-intentioned speech; negatively, Rāvaṇa’s vice of anger and obstinate refusal of truth.