Ravana Refuses to Hear the Words of Vibhishana

सुनिविष्टम् हितम् वाक्यम् उक्तवन्तम् विभीषणम् | अब्रवीत् परुषम् वाक्यम् रावणः काल चोदितः || ६-१६-१

suniviShTam hitam vaakyam uktavantam vibhiiShaNam | abraviit paruSham vaakyam raavaNaH kaala coditaH || 6-16-1

Ravana, goaded by death, spoke the following harsh words to Vibhishana, who was very stable and who had spoken wholesome words:

वसेत् सह सपत्नेन क्रुद्धेन आशी विषेण च | न तु मित्र प्रवादेन सम्वस्च्चत्रुणा सह || ६-१६-२

vaset saha sapatnena kruddhena aashii viSheNa ca | na tu mitra pravaadena samvascchatruNaa saha || 6-16-2

"One can stay together with an enemy or even with a furious snake, but one cannot stay together with an adversary yet avowing himself as a friend"

जानामि शीलम् ज्ञातीनाम् सर्व लोकेषु राक्षस | हृष्यन्ति व्यसनेष्वेते ज्ञातीनाम् ज्ञातयः सदा || ६-१६-३

jaanaami shiilam GYaatiinaam sarva lokeShu raakShasa | hR^iShyanti vyasaneShvete GYaatiinaam GYaatayaH sadaa || 6-16-3

"O, demon! I know the conduct of kinsmen in all the worlds. These kinsmen always are rejoiced at the calamities of their kinsmen"

प्रधानम् साधकम् वैद्यम् धर्म शीलम् च राक्षस | ज्ञातयो ह्यनमन्यन्ते शूरम् परिभवन्ति च || ६-१६-४

pradhaanam saadhakam vaidyam dharma shiilam ca raakShasa | GYaatayo hyanamanyante shuuram paribhavanti ca || 6-16-4

"O, demon! The kinsmen indeed insult and even humiliate their kinsman, who is an effective leader, a person of education and right conduct and a valiant man."

नित्यम् अन्योन्य सम्हृष्टा व्यसनेष्वाततायिनः | प्रच्चन्न हृदया घोरा ज्ञातयस् तु भय आवहाः || ६-१६-५

nityam anyonya samhR^iShTaa vyasaneShvaatataayinaH | pracchanna hR^idayaa ghoraa GYaatayas tu bhaya aavahaaH || 6-16-5

"The horrible kinsmen with their concealed thoughts and treacherous minds, terrific ones as they are, always rejoice each other in adversities."

श्रूयन्ते हस्तिभिर् गीताः श्लोकाः पद्म वने पुरा | पाश हस्तान् नरान् दृष्ट्वा शृणु तान् गदतो मम || ६-१६-६

shruuyante hastibhir giitaaH shlokaaH padma vane puraa | paasha hastaan naraan dR^iShTvaa shR^iNu taan gadato mama || 6-16-6

"Previously in a forest called Padmavana, some maxims were spoken by elephants, which saw men with nooses in hand. Hear and I shall tell them."

नाग्निर्नान्यानि शस्त्राणि न नः पाशा भयावहाः | घोराः स्वार्थप्रयुक्तास्तु ज्ञातयो नो भयावहाः || ६-१६-७

naagnirnaanyaani shastraaNi na naH paashaa bhayaavahaaH | ghoraaH svaarthaprayuktaastu GYaatayo no bhayaavahaaH || 6-16-7

"For us, fire or weapons or nooses are not begetting fear. The terrific kinsmen, incited by selfishness are begetting fear to us."

उपायमेते वक्ष्यन्ति ग्रहणे नात्रसंशयः | कृत्स्नाद् भयाज्ज्ञातिभयम् सुकष्टम् विदितम् च नः || ६-१६-८

upaayamete vakShyanti grahaNe naatrasa.nshayaH | kR^itsnaad bhayaajGYaatibhayam sukaShTam viditam ca naH || 6-16-8

"These kinsmen will inform the strategy to our enemies to seize us. There is no doubt about this. Out of all fears, the fear of kinsmen is very much troublesome for us. It is a well known thing."

विद्यते गोषु सम्पन्नम् विद्यते ज्ञातितो भयम् | विद्यते स्त्रीषु चापल्यम् विद्यते ज्ञातितो भयम् || ६-१६-९

vidyate goShu sampannam vidyate jJNaatito bhayam | vidyate striiShu caapalyam vidyate GYaatito bhayam || 6-16-9

"There is wealth in cows. There is fear for kinsmen. There is fickleness in women. There is austerity in Brahmins."

ततो नेष्टम् इदम् सौम्य यदहम् लोक सत्कृतः | ऐश्वर्यम् अभिजातः च रिपूणाम् मूर्ध्नि च स्थितः || ६-१६-१०

tato neShTam idam saumya yadaham loka satkR^itaH | aishvaryam abhijaataH ca ripuuNaam muurdhni ca sthitaH || 6-16-10

"O, gentleman! Hence, it is not of liking to you that the people are venerating me, that I obtained riches and that I am sitting tight in the heads of enemies".

यथा पुष्करपत्रेषु पतितास्तोयबिन्दवः | न श्लेषमभिगच्चन्ति तथानार्येषु सौहृदम् || ६-१६-११

yathaa puShkarapatreShu patitaastoyabindavaH | na shleShamabhigacchanti tathaanaaryeShu sauhR^idam || 6-16-11

"As drops of water fallen on lotus leaves do not get clung to those leaves, so also a friendship does not cling to vulgar ones."

यथा शरदि मेघानाम् सिञ्चातामपि गर्जताम् | न भवत्यमुबसम्क्लेदस्तथानार्येषु सौहृदम् || ६-१६-१२

yathaa sharadi meghaanaam siJNcaataamapi garjataam | na bhavatyamubasamkledastathaanaaryeShu sauhR^idam || 6-16-12

"As rainy clouds in autumn, even though thundering, cannot get the earth saturated with water, so also friendship does not have tenderness of heart in vulgar people."

यथा मधुकरस्तर्षाद्रासम् विन्दन्न तिष्ठति | तथा त्वमपि तत्रैव तथानार्येषु सौहृदम् || ६-१६-१३

yathaa madhukarastarShaadraasam vindanna tiShThati | tathaa tvamapi tatraiva tathaanaaryeShu sauhR^idam || 6-16-13

"As a honey bee, even though getting nectar from a flower, does not stick on to that flower due to its eager desire for more, you also belong to that category as friendship does not stick on to vulgar people."

यथा मधुकर्स्तराषात्काशपुष्पम् पिबन्नपि | रसमत्र न विन्देत तथानार्येषु सौहृदम् || ६-१६-१४

yathaa madhukarstaraaShaatkaashapuShpam pibannapi | rasamatra na vindeta tathaanaaryeShu sauhR^idam || 6-16-14

"As even though trying to drink nectar from a flower of grass, a honey bee cannot get it, so also friendship cannot be extracted from vulgar persons."

यथा पूर्वम् गजः स्नात्वा गृह्य हस्तेन वै रजः | दूषयत्यात्मनो देहम् तथानार्येषु सौहृदम् || ६-१६-१५

yathaa puurvam gajaH snaatvaa gR^ihya hastena vai rajaH | duuShayatyaatmano deham tathaanaaryeShu sauhR^idam || 6-16-15

"How an elephant abuses its body by helping itself with dust after taking bath earlier with its trunk, friendship gets an abuse in vulgar persons in the same manner."

योऽन्यस्त्वेवम्विधम् ब्रूयाद् वाक्यमेतन्निशाचर | अस्मिन् मुहूर्ते न भवेत् त्वाम् तु धिक् कुलपांसनम् || ६-१६-१६

yo.anyastvevamvidham bruuyaad vaakyametannishaacara | asmin muhuurte na bhavet tvaam tu dhik kulapaa.nsanam || 6-16-16

"O, demon, walking about by night! If any other person utters these words in this manner, he will be ceasing to exit at this moment. O, destroyer of race! A curse upon you!"

इतिउक्तः परुषम् वाक्यम् न्यायवादी विभीषणः | उत्पपात गदापाणिःचतुर्भिः सह राक्षसैः || ६-१६-१७

itiuktaH paruSham vaakyam nyaayavaadii vibhiiShaNaH | utpapaata gadaapaaNiHcaturbhiH saha raakShasaiH || 6-16-17

Hearing those harsh words from Ravana, Vibhishana who advocates justice, wielding a mace in his hand, soared high into the sky, along with four other demons.

अब्रवीच्च तदा वाक्यम् जातक्रोधो विभीषणः | अन्तरिक्षगतः श्रीमान् भ्रातरम् राक्षस अधिपम् || ६-१६-१८

abraviicca tadaa vaakyam jaatakrodho vibhiiShaNaH | antarikShagataH shriimaan bhraataram raakShasa adhipam || 6-16-18

Then, the illustrious Vibhishana who became angry also spoke these words to king Ravana, his brother after moving into the sky.

स त्वम् भ्राता असि मे राजन् ब्रूहि माम् यद् यद् इच्चसि | ज्येष्ठो मान्यः पितृसमो न च धर्मपथे स्थितः || ६-१६-१९ इदम् तु परुषम् वाक्यम् न क्षमामि अनृतम् तव |

sa tvam bhraataa asi me raajan bruuhi maam yad yad icchasi | jyeShTho maanyaH pitR^isamo na ca dharmapathe sthitaH || 6-16-19 idam tu paruSham vaakyam na kShamaami anR^itam tava |

"O, king! You are a brother to me. You utter whatever you like. Elder brother is like a father. Even if he is not staying in a right path, he is to be respected. But I cannot forbear these harsh words from you."

सुनीतम् हित कामेन वाक्यम् उक्तम् दश आनन || ६-१६-२० न गृह्णन्ति अकृत आत्मानः कालस्य वशमागताः |

suniitam hita kaamena vaakyam uktam dasha aanana || 6-16-20 na gR^ihNanti akR^ita aatmaanaH kaalasya vashamaagataaH |

"Those who have an ill composed mind and who get conceded to the occasion do not assimilate the words of prudence, spoken by a well wisher."

सुलभाः पुरुषा राजन् सततम् प्रिय वादिनः || ६-१६-२१ अप्रियस्य तु पथ्यस्य वक्ता श्रोता च दुर्लभः |

sulabhaaH puruShaa raajan satatam priya vaadinaH || 6-16-21 apriyasya tu pathyasya vaktaa shrotaa ca durlabhaH |

"O, king! Men who forever speak pleasing words are easy to be obtained. But one who speaks of useful but unpleasing words as also the one who listens to them, are rare to be obtained"

बद्धम् कालस्य पाशेन सर्व भूत अपहारिणा || ६-१६-२२ न नश्यन्तम् उपेक्षेयम् प्रदीप्तम् शरणम् यथा |

baddham kaalasya paashena sarva bhuuta apahaariNaa || 6-16-22 na nashyantam upekSheyam pradiiptam sharaNam yathaa |

"I could not ignore you, being destroyed by the noose of Yama (god of death); tied around you and which snatches away all beings, as none can ignore a burning house."

दीप्त पावक सम्काशैः शितैः कान्चन भूषणैः || ६-१६-२३ न त्वाम् इच्चामि अहम् द्रष्टुम् रामेण निहतम् शरैः |

diipta paavaka samkaashaiH shitaiH kaancana bhuuShaNaiH || 6-16-23 na tvaam icchaami aham draShTum raameNa nihatam sharaiH |

"I do not wish to see you, being killed by Rama with his sharp arrows, adorned with gold and each resembling like a blazing fire."

शूराः च बलवन्तः च कृत अस्त्राः च नर आजिरे || ६-१६-२४ काल अभिपन्ना सीदन्ति यथा वालुक सेतवः |

shuuraaH ca balavantaH ca kR^ita astraaH ca nara aajire || 6-16-24 kaala abhipannaa siidanti yathaa vaaluka setavaH |

"Persons who are valiant, strong and skilled in weaponry, when time comes, sink down (ruin) as a dam constructed with sand sinks down."

तनर्षयतु यच्चोक्तम् गुरुत्वाद्धितमिच्चता || ६-१६-२५ आत्मानम् सर्वथा रक्ष पुरीम् च इमाम् सराक्षसाम् | स्वस्ति ते अस्तु गमिष्यामि सुखी भव मया विना || ६-१६-२६

tanarShayatu yaccoktam gurutvaaddhitamicchataa || 6-16-25 aatmaanam sarvathaa rakSha puriim ca imaam saraakShasaam | svasti te astu gamiShyaami sukhii bhava mayaa vinaa || 6-16-26

"As an elder brother, bear the words spoken by me, who desire your welfare. Guard this city and yourself along with demons, by all means. Let all be well with you. I am departing. Be a happy person without me."

निवार्यमाणस्य मया हित एषिणा | न रोचते ते वचनम् निशा चर | परीत काला हि गत आयुषो नरा | हितम् न गृह्णन्ति सुहृद्भिर् ईरितम् || ६-१६-२७

"O, Ravana the ranger of the night! My words are not relishing to you, who are being restrained by me duly desiring your welfare. Persons whose duration of life is to end, do not accept the salutary words spoken by their well wishers"