Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 16, Shloka 5

विभीषणोपदेशे रावणस्य परुषवाक्यम्

Ravana’s Harsh Reply to Vibhishana’s Counsel

Devanagari script

नित्यमन्योन्यसम्हृष्टाव्यसनेष्वाततायिनः ।प्रच्छन्नहृदयाघोराज्ञातयस्तुभयावहाः ।।।।

Transliteration

nityam anyonya-saṃhṛṣṭā vyasaneṣv ātatāyinaḥ |

pracchanna-hṛdayā ghorā jñātayas tu bhayāvahāḥ ||

Translation

Thân quyến thật đáng sợ: ngoài mặt luôn tỏ vẻ vui hòa với nhau, nhưng lại hả hê trước tai ương của người khác; lòng dạ che giấu như kẻ sát hại, khiến người ta kinh hãi.

Word by Word

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverbial accusative)

• अन्योन्यसम्हृष्टाः: mutually delighted (in appearance)
• अन्योन्यसम्हृष्टाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्योन्य + संहृष्ट (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्ताधारित)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; अव्ययीभावः अन्योन्यम् (mutually) + संहृष्ट (delighted)

• व्यसनेषु: in misfortunes
• व्यसनेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यसन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), बहुवचन

• आततायिनः: assailants/desperadoes
• आततायिनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आततायिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• प्रच्छन्नहृदयाः: having concealed hearts
• प्रच्छन्नहृदयाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रच्छन्न + हृदय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः प्रच्छन्नं हृदयम् येषाम् (with concealed hearts)

• घोराः: terrible
• घोराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घोर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• ज्ञातयः: relatives
• ज्ञातयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञाति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• तु: but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle; contrast)

• भयावहाः: fear-bringing
• भयावहाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भय + आवह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः भयम् आवहन्ति (bringing fear)

Context

"O King! My words (of advice), given in your interest to prevent you, are not palatable to you. Good advice tendered by friends at the time of death will not be received by those beings whose life is over."৷৷ইত্যার্ষেবাল্মীকীযেশ্রীমদ্রামাযণেআদিকাব্যেযুদ্ধকাণ্ডেষোডশস্সর্গঃ৷৷This is the end of the sixteenth sarga of Yuddha Kanda of the first epic the holy Ramayana composed by sage Valmiki.

Characters & Entities

• Vibhīṣaṇa
• Rāvaṇa
• rākṣasas (as a group)

FAQs

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

Dharma requires inner sincerity; the verse condemns hypocrisy and concealed malice, urging discernment in whom one trusts.

What is the narrative situation?

Vibhīṣaṇa highlights the danger of insincere kinsmen to persuade Rāvaṇa to abandon adharma and accept corrective advice.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Prudence (viveka) and truth-speaking for another’s welfare.