Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 16, Shloka 16

विभीषणोपदेशे रावणस्य परुषवाक्यम्

Ravana’s Harsh Reply to Vibhishana’s Counsel

Devanagari script

अन्यस्त्वेवंविधंब्रूयाद्वाक्यमेतन्निशाचर: ।अस्मिन्मुहूर्तेनभवेत्त्वांतुधिक्कुलपांसन ।।।।

Transliteration

anyas tv evaṃvidhaṃ brūyād vākyam etan niśācaraḥ | asmin muhūrtena bhavet tvāṃ tu dhik kulapāṃsana ||

Translation

Hỡi kẻ dạ-xoa đi trong đêm! Nếu kẻ khác nói lời như thế, ta đã đoạt mạng hắn ngay trong khoảnh khắc này. Còn ngươi—đáng hổ thẹn thay, đồ nhơ nhuốc của dòng tộc!

Word by Word

• anyaḥ: another (person)
• anyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• tu: but
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, विरोध/विशेषणार्थे (but/indeed)

• evaṃ-vidham: of this kind; such
• evaṃ-vidham: Karma (कर्म/object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: evaṃ (अव्यय) + vidha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (evaṃ-vidha = 'such a kind'); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying vākyam)

• brūyāt: should say
• brūyāt: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: brū (ब्रू) (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद; प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन (he should say/would say)

• vākyam: speech; words
• vākyam: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vākya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• etat: this
• etat: Karma (कर्म/object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: etad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: सर्वनाम-शब्द; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (this)

• niśācaraḥ: O night-ranger (Rākṣasa)
• niśācaraḥ: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/vocative-use)
• Type: Noun
• Root: niśācara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सम्बोधनार्थे अपि (addressing)

• asmin: in this
• asmin: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: idam (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुं/नपुंसक, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying muhūrte)

• muhūrte: at this moment
• muhūrte: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muhūrta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; कालाधिकरण (locative of time)

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

• bhavet: may (he) be/live
• bhavet: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (भू) (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद; प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; अत्र शाप/निषेधार्थे (may he not be/live)

• tvām: you
• tvām: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: सर्वनाम; द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• tu: indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, विशेषार्थे (indeed)

• dhik: fie! shame!
• dhik: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/interjection)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: dhik (अव्यय)
• Form: निन्दार्थक-अव्यय (interjection of censure: fie!)

• kula-pāṃsana: O disgrace of the clan
• kula-pāṃsana: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kula (प्रातिपदिक) + pāṃsana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: kulasya pāṃsanaḥ); पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-एकवचन (vocative singular)

Context

Vibheeshana who was just in his argument rose up, wielding mace in hand accompanied by the four Rakshasas, when Ravana had spoken such harsh words to him.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Vibhīṣaṇa

FAQs

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

A ruler’s anger and ego can suppress dharmic counsel; rejecting truthful advice and abusing the advisor marks a fall from righteous governance.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa, angered by Vibhīṣaṇa’s counsel, threatens violence and insults him in the court of Laṅkā.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

By contrast (implicitly), Vibhīṣaṇa’s commitment to truth and welfare-counsel stands against Rāvaṇa’s wrath and pride.