Book VI : Yuddha Kanda - Book Of War

Chapter [Sarga] 16
Verses converted to UTF-8, Nov 09

Introduction

Ravana refuses to hear the words of Vibhishana and rebukes him with harsh words. Vibhishana gets angry and sets off, to leave Ravana.

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suniviṣṭam hitam vākyam uktavantam vibhīṣaṇam |
abravīt paruṣam vākyam rāvaṇaḥ kāla coditaḥ || 6-16-1

1. vibhishhaNam = to Vibhishana; sunuvishhTam = who was very stable; uktavantam = and who spoke; hitam = wholesome; vaakyam = words; raavanNaH = Ravana; kaalachoditaH = goaded by death; abraviit = spoke; parushham = harsh; vaakyam = words; (as follows):

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

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vaset saha sapatnena kruddhena āśī viṣeṇa ca |
na tu mitra pravādena samvasccatruṇā saha || 6-16-2

2. vaset = one can stay; sapatnena saha = with an enemy; ashiivishheNa = or with a snake; kruddhena = which is enraged; tu = but; na samvaset = one cannot stay; shatruNaasaha = with an enemy; mitrapravaadena = talking as a friend."

"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"

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jānāmi śīlam jñātīnām sarva lokeṣu rākṣasa |
hṛṣyanti vyasaneṣvete jñātīnām jñātayaḥ sadā || 6-16-3

3. O; demon! GYaami = I know shiilam = the conduct; gyaatiinaam = of kinsmen; sadaa = always; hR^ishhyanti = are rejoiced; vyasaneshhu = at the calamities; g^yaatiinaam = of their kinsmen."

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

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pradhānam sādhakam vaidyam dharma śīlam ca rākṣasa |
jñātayo hyanamanyante śūram paribhavanti ca || 6-16-4

4. raakshhasa = O;demon; n^yaatayaH = kinsmen; avamanyante hi = indeed insult; paribhavanticha = and even humiliate; saadhakam = an effective; pradhaanam = leader; vaidyam = an educated person; dharmashiilaamcha = a person of right conduct; shuuram = and a valiant man."

"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."

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nityam anyonya samhṛṣṭā vyasaneṣvātatāyinaḥ |
praccanna hṛdayā ghorā jñātayas tu bhaya āvahāḥ || 6-16-5

5. ghoraaH = the horrible; G^yaataH = kinsmen; prachchhanna hR^idayaaH = with their concealed thoughts; aatataayinaH = and treacherous minds; bhayaavahaaH = terrific ones as they are; nityam = always; anyonyasamhR^ishhTaaH = rejoice each other; vyasaneshhu = in adversities."

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

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śrūyante hastibhir gītāḥ ślokāḥ padma vane purā |
pāśa hastān narān dṛṣṭvā śṛṇu tān gadato mama || 6-16-6

6. padmavane = In a forest called Padmavana; puraaH = previously; shlokaH = maxims; giitaH = were spoken; hastibhiH = by elephants; dR^ishhTvaa = after seeing; naraan = men; paasha hastaan = with nooses in hand; shR^iNushhva = Hear; gadataH = as told; mama = to me."

"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."

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nāgnirnānyāni śastrāṇi na naḥ pāśā bhayāvahāḥ |
ghorāḥ svārthaprayuktāstu jñātayo no bhayāvahāḥ || 6-16-7

7. naH = for us; na = no; agniH = fire; na = no; anyaani = after; shastraaNi = weapons; na = no; paashaaH = nooses; na = they are not; bhayaavahaaH = begetting fear; ghoraH = the terrific; jJNaatayaH = kinsmen; svaarthaprayuktaaH = incited by selfishness; bhayaavahaaH = are begetting fear; naH = to us."

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

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upāyamete vakṣyanti grahaṇe nātrasaṃśayaḥ |
kṛtsnād bhayājjñātibhayam sukaṣṭam viditam ca naḥ || 6-16-8

8. ete = these kinsmen; vakshhyanti = will inform; upaayam = the strategy; grahaNe = to seize us; na = there is no; samshayaH = doubt; atra = in this; kR^itsnaat; out of all; bhayaat = fears; G^yaatibhayam = the fear of kinsmen; sukashhTam = is very troublesome; naH = for us; viditam = It is known thing."

"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."

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vidyate goṣu sampannam vidyate jñātito bhayam |
vidyate strīṣu cāpalyam vidyate jñātito bhayam || 6-16-9

9. vidyate = There is; sampannam = wealth; goshhu = in cows; vidyate = there is; bhayam = fear; G^yaatitaH = for kinsmen; vidyate = there is; chaapalyam = fickleness; striishhu = in women; vidyate = there is; tapaH = austerity; braahmaNe = in brahmins."

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

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tato neṣṭam idam saumya yadaham loka satkṛtaḥ |
aiśvaryam abhijātaḥ ca ripūṇām mūrdhni ca sthitaḥ || 6-16-10

10. saumya = O;gentleman! TataH = hence; idam = this; na ishhTam = is not of liking to you; iti yat = that; aham = I; loka satkR^itaH = am venerated by the people; abhijaataHcha = that I obtained; aishvaryam = riches; sthitaHcha = and that I am sitting tight; muurdhni = in the head; ripuNaam = of enemies."

"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".

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yathā puṣkarapatreṣu patitāstoyabindavaḥ |
na śleṣamabhigaccanti tathānāryeṣu sauhṛdam || 6-16-11

11. yathaa = how; toyabindavaH = drops of water; palitaaH = fallen; pushhkarapatreshhu = on lotus leaves; na abhigachchhanti = do not get; shleshham = clinging; tathaa = in the same manner. SouhR^idam = friendship; anaaryeshhu = in vulgar ones."

"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."

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yathā śaradi meghānām siñcātāmapi garjatām |
na bhavatyamubasamkledastathānāryeṣu sauhṛdam || 6-16-12

12. yathaa = how; piNchataam = raining; meghaanaam = clouds ; garjataamapi = even if thundering; na bhaveti = cannot; ambusamsamkledaH = give excessive wetness with water; tathaa = in the same manner; souhR^idam = friendship; anaaryeshhu = in vulgar people."

"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."

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yathā madhukarastarṣādrāsam vindanna tiṣṭhati |
tathā tvamapi tatraiva tathānāryeṣu sauhṛdam || 6-16-13

13. yathaa = how; madhukaraH = a honey bee; vindan = getting; rasam = nectar (from a flower); na tishhThati = does not stick on (that flower);tarshhaat = due to eager desire (for more); tathaa = in the same manner; tvamapi = you also; tatraiva = in that(category) only; tathaa = in the same manner; souhR^idam = friendship; anaaryeshhu = in vulgar people."

"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."

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yathā madhukarstarāṣātkāśapuṣpam pibannapi |
rasamatra na vindeta tathānāryeṣu sauhṛdam || 6-16-14

14. yathaa = how; madhukaraH = a honey bee; na vindeta = cannot get; rasam = nectar; atra = in it; pibannapi = even though trying to drink;kaashapushhpam = on a flower of grass; tathaa = in the same manner ; sauhR^idam = friendship; anaaryeshhu = from vulgar persons."

"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."

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yathā pūrvam gajaḥ snātvā gṛhya hastena vai rajaḥ |
dūṣayatyātmano deham tathānāryeṣu sauhṛdam || 6-16-15

15. yathaa = how; gajaH = an elephants; duushhayati = abuses; aatmanaH = its; deham = body; gR^ihya = by helping itself; rajah = with dust; snaatvaa = after taking bath; puurvaa = earlier; hastena = with its trunk; tathaa = in the same manner; souhR^idam = friendship; anaryeshhu = in vulgar persons"

"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."

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yo.anyastvevamvidham brūyād vākyametanniśācara |
asmin muhūrte na bhavet tvām tu dhik kulapāṃsanam || 6-16-16

16. nishaachara = O; demon; walking about by night! yaH = Whoever; anyaH = other one; evamvidham = in this manner; bruuyaat = utters; etat = these; vaakyam = words; na bhavet = he will not be present; asmin = at this; muhuurte = moment; kula paamsana = O; destroyer of race! dhik = A curse; tvaam tu = upon you."

"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!"

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itiuktaḥ paruṣam vākyam nyāyavādī vibhīṣaṇaḥ |
utpapāta gadāpāṇiḥcaturbhiḥ saha rākṣasaiḥ || 6-16-17

17. parushham = harsh; vaakyam = words; iti = thus; uktaH = spoken; vibhiishhaNaH = Vibhishana; nyaayavaadii = who advocates justice; gadaapaaNiH = having a mace in his hand; utpapaata = soared into the sky; chaturbhiH raakshhasaiH saha = along with four demons.

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.

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abravīcca tadā vākyam jātakrodho vibhīṣaṇaḥ |
antarikṣagataḥ śrīmān bhrātaram rākṣasa adhipam || 6-16-18

18. tadaa = then; shriimaan = the illustrious; vibhiishhaNaH = Vibhishana; jaatakrodhaH = for whom angry was arisen; antarikshhagataH = after moving into the sky; abraviichcha = spoke also; raakshhasaadhipam = to the king of demons; bhraataram = his brother.

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

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sa tvam bhrātā asi me rājan brūhi mām yad yad iccasi |
jyeṣṭho mānyaḥ pitṛsamo na ca dharmapathe sthitaḥ || 6-16-19
idam tu paruṣam vākyam na kṣamāmi anṛtam tava |

19. raajan = O;king! SaH tvam = you as such; asi = are; bhraataa = brother; me = to me; bruuhi = speak; maam = to me; yadyat = whatever; ichchhasi = you like; jyeshhThaH = elder brother; pitR^isamaH = is equal to father; maanyaH = he is to be respected; nachasthitaH = even though not staying; dharmapathe = in right path; ; na kshhamaapi = I cannot forbear; ;idam = these; te = your; parushham = harsh; vaakyamtu = words."

"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."

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sunītam hita kāmena vākyam uktam daśa ānana || 6-16-20
na gṛhṇanti akṛta ātmānaḥ kālasya vaśamāgatāḥ |

20. akR^itaatmenaH = those who have an ill composed mind; aagataah = and get; vasham = conceded; kaalasya = to the occasion; na gR^ihNanti = do not assimilate; suniitam vaakyam = the words of prudence; uktam = spoken; hitakaamena = by a well wisher."

"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."

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sulabhāḥ puruṣā rājan satatam priya vādinaḥ || 6-16-21
apriyasya tu pathyasya vaktā śrotā ca durlabhaḥ |

21. raajan = O;king! purushaaH = men; priyavaadinaH = who speak pleasing words; satatam = forever; sulabhaaH = are easy to be obtained; vaktaa = (But) one who speaks; pathyasya = of useful; apriyasya = but unpleasing words; shrotaacha = and also one listens to them; durlabhaaH = are rare to be obtained."

"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"

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baddham kālasya pāśena sarva bhūta apahāriṇā || 6-16-22
na naśyantam upekṣeyam pradīptam śaraṇam yathā |

22. naupekshhe = I could not ignore; tvaam = you;nashyantam = being destroyed; paashena = by the noose; kaalasya = of Yama; (god of death); baddham = being tied; (around you); sarva bhuutaapahaariNaH = which takes away all beings; sharaNamyathaa = as a house; pradiiptam = which is burning."

"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."

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dīpta pāvaka samkāśaiḥ śitaiḥ kāncana bhūṣaṇaiḥ || 6-16-23
na tvām iccāmi aham draṣṭum rāmeṇa nihatam śaraiḥ |

23. aham = I; naichchhaami = do not wish; drashhTum = to see; tvaam = you; nihatam = killed; raameNa = by Rama; sharaiH = by his arrows; shitaaH = sharp as they are ; kaaNchana bhuushhaNaiH = = adorned with gold; diiptapaavaka samkaashaiH = and resembling like blazing fire."

"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."

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śūrāḥ ca balavantaḥ ca kṛta astrāḥ ca nara ājire || 6-16-24
kāla abhipannā sīdanti yathā vāluka setavaḥ |

24. naraaH = persons; shuuraaH = who are valiant; balavantashcha = who are strong; kR^itaashcha = and who are skilled in weaponry; kaalaabhipannaaH = overpowered by Time; siidanti = sink down = (ruin) vaaluka setuvaH yathaa = like a dam constructed with sand."

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

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tanarṣayatu yaccoktam gurutvāddhitamiccatā || 6-16-25
ātmānam sarvathā rakṣa purīm ca imām sarākṣasām |
svasti te astu gamiṣyāmi sukhī bhava mayā vinā || 6-16-26

25; 26. gurutraat = as an elder brother; marshhayatu = be patient; tat = with that; uktam = spoken; yat = by which; hitam = welfare; ichchhataa = was desired by me; rakshha = guard; aatmaanam = yourself; saraaksshhasaam = along with demons; imaam = and this ; puriimcha = city ; sarvathaa = by all means; asti = Let (all) be; savasti = well; te = to you; gamishhyaami = I am departing; bhava = Be; sukhii = happy person; mayaa vinaa = without me."

"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."

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nivāryamāṇasya mayā hita eṣiṇā |
na rocate te vacanam niśā cara |
parīta kālā hi gata āyuṣo narā |
hitam na gṛhṇanti suhṛdbhir īritam || 6-16-27

27. nishaachara = O; Ravana; the ranger of the night! vachanam = my words; narochate = are not relishing; te = to you; nivaaryanaaNasya = who are being restrained; mayaa = by me; hitaaishhiNaa = desiring welfare; naraaH = persons; gataayushhaH = whose duration of life is ended; na gR^ihNanti = do not accept ;hitam = the beneficial words; iiritam = spoken; suhR^idbhiH = by well wishers."

"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"

- - - -

ityārṣe śrīmadrāmāyaṇe ādikāvye yuddhakāṇḍe ṣoḍaśaḥ sargaḥ

Thus completes 16th Chapter of Yuddha Kanda of the glorious Ramayana of Valmiki, the work of a sage and the oldest epic.

Verse Locator for Book VI : Yuddha Kanda - Book Of War : Chapter 16

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© October 2003, K. M. K. Murthy