Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 16, Shloka 26

विभीषणोपदेशे रावणस्य परुषवाक्यम्

Ravana’s Harsh Reply to Vibhishana’s Counsel

Devanagari script

तन्मर्षयतुयच्चोक्तंगुरुत्वाद्धितमिच्छता ।।6.16.25।।अत्मानंसर्वथारक्षपुरींचेमांसराक्षसाम् ।स्वस्तितेऽस्तुगमिष्यामिसुखीभवमयाविना ।।6.16.26।।

Transliteration

pradhānaṃ sādhanaṃ vaidyaṃ dharmaśīlaṃ ca rākṣasaḥ |

jñātayo hy avamanyante śūraṃ paribhavanti ca ||

Translation

Hỡi La-sát-sa, dẫu bậc thủ lĩnh tài cán, thông tuệ, giữ nếp dharma, lại là dũng tướng, thì chính thân quyến vẫn có thể khinh miệt và sỉ nhục.

Word by Word

• nivāryamāṇasya: of (you) being restrained
• nivāryamāṇasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-√vṛ (धातु)
• Form: Śānac (present passive participle/शानच), Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī (6th), Ekavacana; 'of (you) being restrained'

• mayā: by me
• mayā: Kartā (कर्ता/Agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Tṛtīyā (3rd), Ekavacana

• hitaiṣiṇā: (by me) seeking your good
• hitaiṣiṇā: Kartā (कर्ता/Agent, apposition to mayā)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hita (प्रातिपदिक) + eṣin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā (3rd), Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: 'one who seeks (your) welfare'

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: niṣedha-avyaya (negation)

• rocate: is pleasing
• rocate: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ruc (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (Present), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana; ātmanepada; impersonal sense 'is pleasing'

• te: to you
• te: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान/Experiencer)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Caturthī (4th), Ekavacana

• vacanam: speech/words
• vacanam: Kartā (कर्ता/Subject of impersonal verb)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsaka, Prathamā (1st), Ekavacana; subject of rocate

• niśācaraḥ: O night-ranger (rākṣasa)
• niśācaraḥ: Sambodhyam/Prathamā (सम्बोधनार्थ-प्रथमा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: niśācara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st), Ekavacana; in apposition to implied 'you' (Rāvaṇa)

• parītāḥ: overcome
• parītāḥ: Kartā (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pari-√i (धातु)
• Form: Kta (past participle), Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st), Bahuvacana; 'surrounded/overcome'

• kālena: by death/time
• kālena: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā (3rd), Ekavacana; karaṇa: 'by time/death'

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: nipāta (emphatic/causal particle)

• gata-āyuṣaḥ: whose life is spent
• gata-āyuṣaḥ: Kartā (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gata (कृदन्त, √gam) + āyus (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st), Bahuvacana; tatpuruṣa: 'whose life has gone'

• narāḥ: men
• narāḥ: Kartā (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st), Bahuvacana

• hitam: good counsel
• hitam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hita (कृदन्त, √dhā with hi-)
• Form: Napuṃsaka, Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: niṣedha-avyaya (negation)

• gṛhṇanti: accept
• gṛhṇanti: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √grah (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (Present), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Bahuvacana; parasmaipada

• suhṛdbhiḥ: by friends
• suhṛdbhiḥ: Kartā (कर्ता/Agent in passive participle context)
• Type: Noun
• Root: suhṛd (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā (3rd), Bahuvacana

• īritam: spoken/uttered
• īritam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √īr (धातु)
• Form: Kta (past passive participle), Napuṃsaka, Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana; qualifies hitam

Context

"Since you are an elderly one, I desired to tender good advice and spoke these words. I may be excused. You protect all these Rakshasas, this capital city and yourself after I depart. Let you be auspicious and be happy."

Characters & Entities

• Vibhīṣaṇa
• Rāvaṇa
• rākṣasas (as a group)

FAQs

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

Dharma in leadership is not validated by popularity; the verse teaches steadiness in righteousness even when one faces disrespect—even from one’s own people.

What is the narrative situation?

Vibhīṣaṇa continues warning Rāvaṇa that internal circles can undermine a ruler, so Rāvaṇa should listen to dharmic counsel rather than flattery.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Forthright integrity and commitment to dharma over social approval.