Sloka & Translation

[Ravana gets annoyed at Vibheeshana's advice and replies to him in a harsh tone. Vibheeshana departs from Ravana.]

suniviṣṭaṅhitaṅvākyamuktavantaṅvibhīṣaṇam .

abravītparuṣaṅvākyaṅrāvaṇaḥkālacōditaḥ ।।6.16.1।।

suniviṣṭam with good intention, hitam favourable, vākyam words, uktavantam that were spoken by, vibhīṣaṇaṅ: Vibheeshana, rāvaṇaḥ Ravana, kālacōditaḥ influenced by death, paruṣam harsh, vākyam words, ābravīt spoke.

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

vasētsahasapatnēnakruddhē.nāśīviṣēṇavā .

natumitrapravādēnasaṅvasēcchatrusēvinā ।।6.16.2।।

sapatnēnasaha: with known enemy, vasēt can live with, kṛddhēna: angry, aśīviṣēṇaca: even with venomous serpent, mitrapravādēna: professing to be a friend, śatruṇāsahatu: devoted to enemy, nasaṅvasēt cannot stay together.

"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."

jānāmiśīlaṅjñātīnāṅsarvalōkēṣurākṣasa: .

hṛṣyantivyasanēṣvētējñātīnājñātayassadā ।।6.16.3।।

rākṣasa: O Rakshasa!, sarvalōkēṣu: in all the worlds, jñātīnām of close relatives, śīlam behaviour, jānāmi: is known to me, ētē these, jñātayaḥ relatives, sadā: always, jñātīnām of relatives, vyasanēṣu: when in difficulty, hṛṣyanti: are happy.

"The behaviour of close relatives in all worlds is known to me. They are happy at the difficulties of relatives."

prathānaṅsādhanaṅvaidyaṅdharmaśīlaṅcarākṣasa: .

jñātayōhyavamanyantēśūraṅparibhavantica ।।6.16.4।।

rākṣasa: Rakshasa, jñātayaḥ relatives, prathānam chief, sādhakam accomplished vaidyam: learned ones, dharmaśīlaṅca: and one who is virtuous, śūram heroic ones, avamanyastēhi: will disapprove, paribhavantica: will disrespect.

"O Rakshasa! Relatives will insult and disapprove their chief even if he is an accomplished one, a virtuous one or a heroic one and does his duty (as a ruler)."

nityamanyōnyasamhṛṣṭāvyasanēṣvātatāyinaḥ .

pracchannahṛdayāghōrājñātayastubhayāvahāḥ ।।6.16.5।।

vyasanēṣu: in misfortunes, nityam forever, anyōnyasamhṛṣṭāḥ rejoice pretending to be friendly, ātatāyinaḥ a desperado, pracchannahṛdayāḥ a covertly person, ghōrā: terrible, jñātiyaḥ relatives, bhayāvahāḥ create fear.

"Pretending to be friendly forever the relatives rejoice in them is fortunes of their relatives. They create terrible fear like desperadoes and covertly ones."

śrūyantēhastibhirgītāśślōkāḥpadmavanēkvacit .

pāśahastānnarāndruṣṭavāśṛṇutāngadatōmama ।।6.16.6।।

purā: in the past, padmavanē: in the lotus park, pāśahastān one holding the snares, narān men in hand, dṛṣṭvā: seeing, hastibhiḥ even elephants, gītāḥ uttered, ślōkāḥ verses, śrūyantē: heard of, gadataḥ relate, mama: to me, śṛṇu: listen.

"In the past elephants in the lotus park, uttered some verses on seeing men holding snares in hand. I will relate those that I heard. You may listen."

nāgnirnānyāniśastrāṇinanaḥpāśābhayāvahāḥ .

ghōrāssvārthaprayuktāstujñātayōnōbhayāvahāḥ ।।6.16.7।।

agni: fire, na: no, anyāni: others, śastrāṇi: weapons, na: no, pāśāḥ noose, bhayāvahāḥ fear, na: no, ghōrāḥ terrific, svārthaprayuktāḥ one who is selfish, jñātayaḥ close relatives, naḥ for us, bhayāvahāḥ causing fear.

"We have no fear of fire or weapons or noose of death. Selfish relatives are causing fear in us."

upāyamētēvakṣyantigrahaṇēnātrasaṅśayaḥ .

kṛtsnādbhayād jñātibhayaṅsukaṣṭaṅviditaṅcana ।।6.16.8।।

ētē: they, grahaṇē: to catch, upāyam means, vakṣyanti: teach, kṛtsnā: great, bhayāt fear, jñātibhayam fear of paternal relatives, naḥ for us, sukaṣṭam very difficult, viditam is known.

"It is known that they (paternal relatives) teach the means to catch us. Out of all fears the fear of close relatives is the great difficulty for us."

vidyatēgōṣusampannaṅvidyatēbrāhmaṇēdamaḥ .

vidyatēstrīṣucāpalyaṅvidyatējñātitōbhayam ।।6.16.9।।

gōṣu: in cows, sampannam wealth, vidyatē: is present, jñātitaḥ in close relatives, bhayam fear, vidyatē: is seen, strīṣu: in women, cāpalyam capriciousness, vidyatē: is present, brāhmaṇē: in brahmins, damaḥ forbearance, vidyatē: is present.

"In the cows' wealth is present, in the brahmins forbearance is seen, in the women capriciousness exists but in close relatives fear is present."

tatōnēṣṭamidaṅsaumyayadahaṅlōkasatkṛtaḥ .

aiśvaryamabhijātaścajñātīnāṅmūrdhnyavasthitaḥ ।।6.16.10।।

saumya: gentle, tataḥ therefore, aham I, lōkasatkṛtaḥ worshipped by the people, aiśvaryam sovereignty, abhijātaḥca: born of noble descent, jñātīnām of the clan, mūdhnarya: chief, avasthita: attained, idam this, naiṣṭam not like.

"Gentle (Vibheeshana) one! Since you belong to the same kinsfolk (as I) you do not like me, who is born of noble descent, attained the position of chief (of clan), is worshipped by the world, and attained sovereignty."

yathāpuṣkarapatrēṣupatitāstōyabindavaḥ .

naślēṣamabhigacchantitathā.nāryēṣusaṅgatam ।।6.16.11।।

puṣkarapatrēṣu: on the lotus leaves, patitāḥ fallen, tōyabindavaḥ drops of water, yathā: so also, ślēṣam adhering to, na: not, abhigacchanti: however long you spend, anāryēṣu: with unworthy, saṅgatam good friendship, tathā: likewise.

"Just as drops of water that fall on lotus leaves do not adhere to each other, like wise however long you spend with an unworthy (relative) one, good friendship does not take place."

yathāmadhukarastarṣādrasaṅvindannavidyatē .

tathātvamapitatraivatathānāryēṣusauhṛdam ।।6.16.12।।

yathā: that way, rasam juice, vindan gaining, madhukaraḥ honeybees, tarṣāt satisfying, navidyatē: does not know, tvamapi: you also, tathā: likewise, tatraivaanāryēṣu: in the same way with unworthy ones, sauhṛdam making friendship, tathā: that way.

"Just as honeybees do not have gratitude after drinking (honey) and satisfying, the friendship with an unworthy person like you is of no use."

yathāpūrvaṅgajassnātvāgṛhyahastēnavairajaḥ .

dūṣayatyātmanōdēhaṅtathānāryēṣusaṅgatam ।।6.16.13।।

gajaḥ elephant, pūrvam first, snātvā: taking bath, hastēna: with its own trunk, rajaḥ dust,gṛhya: taking, ātmanaḥ own, dēham body, yathā: in the same way, dūṣayati: abuses, tathā: that way, anāryēṣu: unworthy ones, saṅgatam association.

"Just as an elephant takes dust with its trunk and abuses (and spreads on) its own body after taking a bath so also is the association with unworthy ones."

yathāśaradimēghānāṅsiñcatāmapigarjatām .

nabhavatyambusaṅklēdastathā.nāryēṣusauhṛdam ।।6.16.14।।

śaradi: in autumn, garjatāmapi: even the thundering, siñcatām water poured down, mēghānām from the clouds, ambusaṅklēdaḥ dampness created by water, yathā: in the same way, nabhavati: not happen, anāryēṣu: unworthy, sauhṛdam affection.

"Just as the autumn rain poured out from the thundering clouds does not dampen, in the same way unworthy ones do not have affection."

yathāmadhukarastarṣātkāśapuṣpaṅpibannapi .

rasamatranavindētatathānārvēṣusauhṛdam ।।6.16.15।।

madhukaraḥ honey bees, tarṣāt on satisfying, kāśapuṣpam from the flower, pibannapi: even after drinking, atra: stay here, rasam the nectar, yathā: in the same way, navindēta: after getting, anāryēṣu: unworthy one, sauhṛdam friendships, tathā: likewise.

"Just as honeybees do not stay at the flower after satisfaction with the nectar, in the same way is the friendship with unworthy ones."

anyastvēvaṅvidhaṅbrūyādvākyamētanniśācara: .

asminmuhūrtēnabhavēttvāṅtudhikkulapāṅsana ।।6.16.16।।

niśācara: night ranger, anyaḥ others, yaḥ whoever, ēvaṅvidham this kind of, ētat in this way, vākyam words, brūyāt had spoken, asmin him, muhūrtēnabhavēt will not let him live this moment, kulapāṅsanam to destroy, tvāṅtu: you also, dhik fie.

"O Night ranger (Vibheeshana)! If any other one had spoken such words, I would not let him live this moment and also destroy. Fie upon you."

ityuktaḥparuṣaṅvākyaṅnyāyavādīvibhīṣaṇaḥ .

utpapātagadāpāṇiścaturbhissaharākṣasaiḥ ।।6.6.17।।

iti: this, paruṣam harsh, vākyam words, uktaḥ having spoken, nyāyavādī: one who is just in argument, vibhīṣaṇaḥ Vibheeshana, gadāpāṇiḥ wielding the mace, caturbhiḥ with four, rākṣasaiḥsaha: accompanied by Rakshasas, utpapāta: rose up.

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.

abravīccatadāvākyaṅjātakrōdhōvibhīṣaṇaḥ .

antarikṣagatśīmānbhrātaraṅrākṣasādhipam ।।6.16.18।।

jātakrōdhaḥ enraged, śrīmān prosperous, vibhīṣaṇaḥ Vibheeshana, antarikṣagataḥ going into the sky, tadā: then, bhrātaram brother, rākṣasādhipam Lord of Rakshasas, abravīcca spoke.

Great Vibheeshana was enraged. Then going up into the sky spoke these words to his brother, the Lord of Rakshasas.

satvaṅbhrātā.simērājanbrūhimāṅyadyadicchasi .

jyēṣṭōmānyaḥpitṛsamōnacadharmapathēsthitaḥ ।।6.16.19।।

idaṅtuparuṣaṅvākyaṅnakṣamāmyagrajasyatē .

rājan O King!, saḥtvam that you, mē: my, bhrātā: brother, asi: being so, yadyat that which, icchasi: wish, mām to me, brūhi: to tell, jyēṣṭhaḥ elder, pitṛsamaḥ equal to the father, dharmapathē: righteous path, nacasthitaḥ not followed, mānyaḥ honour, āgrajasya: to elder brother, tē: to you, idam thus, vākyaṅ: words tu: to you nakṣamāmi: not pardonable.

"O King! You, being my elder brother, you may tell me What you wish. You are equal to father being elder brother and are to be honoured. But you have not followed the righteous path. The words you spoke are not pardonable."

sunītaṅhitakāmēnavākyamuktaṅdaśānana: .

nagṛhṇantyakṛtātmānaḥkālasyavaśamāgatāḥ ।।6.16.20।।

daśānana: ten-headed one, kālasya: of death, vaśam under the sway, āgatāḥ fallen, akṛtātmānaḥ foolish one, hitakāmēna: wishing your welfare, uktam spoken, sunītam well prepared, hitam good, vākyam words, nagṛhṇanti: not understand.

"O Ten-headed king! Fallen under the sway of death, you are foolish. You do not understand the well prepared good words spoken by me wishing your welfare."

sulabhāḥpuruṣarājan satataṅpriyavādinaḥ .

apriyasyacapathyasyavaktāśrōtācadurlabhaḥ ।।6.16.21।।

rājan O king!, satatam always, priyavādinaḥ who speak pleasingly, puruṣāḥ men, sulabhāḥ are easily found, apriyasya: that which is unpleasant, pathyasya: good words, vaktā: speaker, śrōtāca: listener also, durlabhaḥ difficult.

"O King! Those who speak pleasingly are always easier to find than those who speak unpleasant but good words. Listeners of unpleasant words (though good) are difficult (to find)."

baddhaṅkālasyapāśēnasarvabhūtāpahāriṇā .

nanaśyantamupēkṣētvāṅpradīptaṅśaraṇaṅyathā ।।6.16.22।।

sarvabhūtāpahāriṇā: one who is cause for destruction of all beings, kālasya: at death, pāśēna: by the noose, baddam bound, naśyantam getting killed, tvām you, pradīptam blazing, śaraṇaṅyathā: house, naupēkṣē: do not ignore.

"Bound by the noose of death which is the cause of destruction of all beings you are going to be killed just as the burning house if you ignore my advice."

dīptapāvakasaṅkāśaiśśitaiḥkāñcanabhūṣaṇaiḥ .

natvāmicchāmyahaṅdraṣṭuṅrāmēṇanihataṅśaraiḥ ।।6.16.23।।

dīptapāvakasaṅkāśaiḥ like burning fire, kāñjanabhūṣaṇaiḥ decorated with gold, śitaiḥ sharp, śaraiḥ arrows, rāmēṇa: by Rama, nihatam striking to kill, tvām you, draṣṭum to see, naicchāmi: I do not wish.

"While the sharp golden arrows of Rama burning like fire strike you, I do not wish to see."

śūrāścabalavantaścakṛtāstrāścaraṇājirē .

kālābhipannāssīdantiyathāvālukasētava ।।6.16.24।।

raṇājirē: in war, śūrāḥ heroic archers, balavantaśca: and mighty, kṛtāstrāśca: those wielding arrows, narāḥ humans, kālābhipannāḥ seized by death, vālukasētavayathā: just as the dams of sand, sīdanti: will fall.

"Even the heroic archers and mighty men wielding weapons will fall in war seized by death like the dams of sands."

tanmarṣayatuyaccōktaṅgurutvāddhitamicchatā ।।6.16.25।।

atmānaṅsarvathārakṣapurīṅcēmāṅsarākṣasām .

svastitē.stugamiṣyāmisukhībhavamayāvinā ।।6.16.26।।

gurutvāt as you are an elderly one, hitam good advice, icchatā: wished, yat such, uktam words spoken, tat that, marṣayatu: I may be excused, ātmānam yourself, sarākṣasām these Rakshasas, imām this, purīṅca: capital city, sarvathā: all, rakṣatē: you protect, svasti: let you be auspicious, astu: you be, gamiṣyāmi: I will depart, mayāvinā: without me, sukhībhava: let you be happy.

"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."

nivāryamāṇasyamayāhitaiṣiṇānarōcatētēvacanaṅniśācara: .

parītakālāhigatāyuṣōnarāhitaṅnagṛhṇantisuhṛdbhirīritam ।।6.16.27।।

niśācara: night ranger, hitaiṣiṇā: in your interest, mayā: by me, nivāryamāṇasya: preventing you, tē: to you, vacanam my words, narōcatē: not palatable, parītakālāhi: at the time of death, gatāyuṣaḥ those whose life is over, narāḥ beings, gatāyuṣaḥ whose life is over, suhṛdbhi: friends, īritam tendering, hitam good advice, nagṛhṇantihi: will not receive.

"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."
।।ityārṣēvālmīkīyēśrīmadrāmāyaṇēādikāvyēyuddhakāṇḍēṣōḍaśassargaḥ।।
This is the end of the sixteenth sarga of Yuddha Kanda of the first epic the holy Ramayana composed by sage Valmiki.