Vibhishana's Counsel of Peace

Shloka 1 (yuddha.14.1)

निशाचरेन्द्रस्य निशम्य वाक्यं स कुम्भकर्णस्य च गर्जितानि । विभीषणो राक्षसराजमुख्य- मुवाच वाक्यं हितमर्थयुक्तम् ॥ १४.१ ॥

niśācarendrasya niśamya vākyaṃ sa kumbhakarṇasya ca garjitāni | vibhīṣaṇo rākṣasarājamukhya- muvāca vākyaṃ hitamarthayuktam ||

Having heard the words of the lord of demons and the roars of Kumbhakarna, Vibhishana spoke words of wholesome import to Ravana, chief of the demon kings.

Shloka 2 (yuddha.14.2)

वृतो हि बाह्वन्तरभोगराशि- श्चिन्ताविषः सुस्मिततीक्ष्णदंष्ट्रः । पञ्चाङ्गुलीपञ्चशिरोऽतिकायः सीतामहाहिस्तव केन राजन् ॥ १४.२ ॥

vṛto hi bāhvantarabhogarāśi- ścintāviṣaḥ susmitatīkṣṇadaṃṣṭraḥ | pañcāṅgulīpañcaśiro'tikāyaḥ sītāmahāhistava kena rājan ||

"O king, who has coiled about you this great serpent named Sita—her embracing arms its coils, anxiety its venom, her sweet smile its sharp fangs, her five fingers its five hoods, monstrous in its size?"

Shloka 3 (yuddha.14.3)

यावन्न लङ्कां समभिद्रवन्ति बलीमुखाः पर्वतकूटमात्राः । दंष्ट्रायुधाश्चैव नखायुधाश्च प्रदीयतां दाशरथाय मैथिली ॥ १४.३ ॥

yāvanna laṅkāṃ samabhidravanti balīmukhāḥ parvatakūṭamātrāḥ | daṃṣṭrāyudhāścaiva nakhāyudhāśca pradīyatāṃ dāśarathāya maithilī ||

"Before those monkeys, huge as mountain peaks, their fangs and claws for weapons, come rushing upon Lanka—let Maithili be given back to Rama."

Shloka 4 (yuddha.14.4)

यावन्न गृह्णन्ति शिरांसि बाणा रामेरिता राक्षसपुंगवानाम् । वज्रोपमा वायुसमानवेगाः प्रदीयतां दाशरथाय मैथिली ॥ १४.४ ॥

yāvanna gṛhṇanti śirāṃsi bāṇā rāmeritā rākṣasapuṃgavānām | vajropamā vāyusamānavegāḥ pradīyatāṃ dāśarathāya maithilī ||

"Before Rama's arrows—like thunderbolts, swift as the wind—come to sever the heads of our foremost demons, let Maithili be given back to Rama."

Shloka 5 (yuddha.14.5)

न कुम्भकर्णेन्द्रजितौ च राजं- स्तथा महापार्श्वमहोदरौ वा । निकुम्भकुम्भौ च तथातिकायः स्थातुं समर्था युधि राघवस्य ॥ १४.५ ॥

na kumbhakarṇendrajitau ca rājaṃ- stathā mahāpārśvamahodarau vā | nikumbhakumbhau ca tathātikāyaḥ sthātuṃ samarthā yudhi rāghavasya ||

"O king, neither Kumbhakarna nor Indrajit, nor Mahaparshva nor Mahodara, nor Nikumbha and Kumbha, nor even Atikaya, is capable of standing against Raghava in battle."

Shloka 6 (yuddha.14.6)

जीवंस्तु रामस्य न मोक्ष्यसे त्वं गुप्तः सवित्राप्यथवा मरुद्भिः । न वासवस्याङ्कगतो न मृत्यो- र्नभो न पातालमनुप्रविष्टः ॥ १४.६ ॥

jīvaṃstu rāmasya na mokṣyase tvaṃ guptaḥ savitrāpyathavā marudbhiḥ | na vāsavasyāṅkagato na mṛtyo- rnabho na pātālamanupraviṣṭaḥ ||

"You shall not escape Rama alive, even were you protected by the Sun-god or by the Maruts, even seated in Indra's own lap, or near Death himself, or hidden in the sky or sunk into the netherworld."

Shloka 7 (yuddha.14.7)

निशम्य वाक्यं तु विभीषणस्य ततः प्रहस्तो वचनं बभाषे । न नो भयं विद्म न दैवतेभ्यो न दानवेभ्योऽप्यथवा कदाचित् ॥ १४.७ ॥

niśamya vākyaṃ tu vibhīṣaṇasya tataḥ prahasto vacanaṃ babhāṣe | na no bhayaṃ vidma na daivatebhyo na dānavebhyo'pyathavā kadācit ||

Hearing Vibhishana's words, Prahasta then spoke: "We know no fear, neither from the gods nor from the demons, at any time."

Shloka 8 (yuddha.14.8)

न यक्षगन्धर्वमहोरगेभ्यो भयं न संख्ये पतगोरगेभ्यः । कथं नु रामाद् भविता भयं नो नरेन्द्रपुत्रात् समरे कदाचित् ॥ १४.८ ॥

na yakṣagandharvamahoragebhyo bhayaṃ na saṃkhye patagoragebhyaḥ | kathaṃ nu rāmād bhavitā bhayaṃ no narendraputrāt samare kadācit ||

"We fear neither the yakshas, the gandharvas, nor the great serpents in battle, nor birds nor snakes. How then could we ever fear Rama, a mere prince, in war?"

Shloka 9 (yuddha.14.9)

प्रहस्तवाक्यं त्वहितं निशम्य विभीषणो राजहितानुकाङ्क्षी । ततो महार्थं वचनं बभाषे धर्मार्थकामेषु निविष्टबुद्धिः ॥ १४.९ ॥

prahastavākyaṃ tvahitaṃ niśamya vibhīṣaṇo rājahitānukāṅkṣī | tato mahārthaṃ vacanaṃ babhāṣe dharmārthakāmeṣu niviṣṭabuddhiḥ ||

Hearing Prahasta's harmful words, Vibhishana, who desired the king's welfare and whose mind was fixed alike on virtue, wealth, and pleasure, spoke words of great import.

Shloka 10 (yuddha.14.10)

प्रहस्त राजा च महोदरश्च त्वं कुम्भकर्णश्च यथार्थजातम् । ब्रवीत रामं प्रति तन्न शक्यं यथा गतिः स्वर्गमधर्मबुद्धेः ॥ १४.१० ॥

prahasta rājā ca mahodaraśca tvaṃ kumbhakarṇaśca yathārthajātam | bravīta rāmaṃ prati tanna śakyaṃ yathā gatiḥ svargamadharmabuddheḥ ||

"O Prahasta, whatever the king, Mahodara, you, and Kumbhakarna are all proposing against Rama is as impossible to achieve as heaven is for a mind bent on unrighteousness."

Shloka 11 (yuddha.14.11)

वधस्तु रामस्य मया त्वया च प्रहस्त सर्वैरपि राक्षसैर्वा । कथं भवेदर्थविशारदस्य महार्णवं तर्तुमिवाप्लवस्य ॥ १४.११ ॥

vadhastu rāmasya mayā tvayā ca prahasta sarvairapi rākṣasairvā | kathaṃ bhavedarthaviśāradasya mahārṇavaṃ tartumivāplavasya ||

"O Prahasta, how could the slaying of Rama, so skilled in every matter, ever be achieved by me, or by you, or even by all the demons together? It would be like crossing the great ocean without a boat."

Shloka 12 (yuddha.14.12)

धर्मप्रधानस्य महारथस्य इक्ष्वाकुवंशप्रभवस्य राज्ञः । पुरोऽस्य देवाश्च तथाविधस्य कृत्येषु शक्तस्य भवन्ति मूढाः ॥ १४.१२ ॥

dharmapradhānasya mahārathasya ikṣvākuvaṃśaprabhavasya rājñaḥ | puro'sya devāśca tathāvidhasya kṛtyeṣu śaktasya bhavanti mūḍhāḥ ||

"Even the gods become bewildered when standing before a king such as this—one who holds righteousness supreme, a great chariot-warrior, born of the Ikshvaku line, and capable of achieving whatever he undertakes."

Shloka 13 (yuddha.14.13)

तीक्ष्णा न तावत् तव कङ्कपत्रा दुरासदा राघवविप्रमुक्ताः । भित्त्वा शरीरं प्रविशन्ति बाणाः प्रहस्त तेनैव विकत्थसे त्वम् ॥ १४.१३ ॥

tīkṣṇā na tāvat tava kaṅkapatrā durāsadā rāghavavipramuktāḥ | bhittvā śarīraṃ praviśanti bāṇāḥ prahasta tenaiva vikatthase tvam ||

"O Prahasta, those sharp and formidable arrows, fletched with heron's feathers and loosed by Raghava, have not yet pierced and entered your own body—that is precisely why you boast so."

Shloka 14 (yuddha.14.14)

भित्त्वा न तावत् प्रविशन्ति कायं प्राणान्तिकास्तेऽशनितुल्यवेगाः । शिताः शरा राघवविप्रमुक्ताः प्रहस्त तेनैव विकत्थसे त्वम् ॥ १४.१४ ॥

bhittvā na tāvat praviśanti kāyaṃ prāṇāntikāste'śanitulyavegāḥ | śitāḥ śarā rāghavavipramuktāḥ prahasta tenaiva vikatthase tvam ||

"Those fatal, sharp arrows loosed by Raghava, swift as the thunderbolt, have not yet pierced and entered your body—that is precisely why you boast so."

Shloka 15 (yuddha.14.15)

न रावणो नातिबलस्त्रिशीर्षो न कुम्भकर्णस्य सुतो निकुम्भः । न चेन्द्रजिद् दाशरथिं प्रवोढुं त्वं वा रणे शक्रसमं समर्थः ॥ १४.१५ ॥

na rāvaṇo nātibalastriśīrṣo na kumbhakarṇasya suto nikumbhaḥ | na cendrajid dāśarathiṃ pravoḍhuṃ tvaṃ vā raṇe śakrasamaṃ samarthaḥ ||

"Neither Ravana, nor the mighty Trishira, nor Nikumbha, son of Kumbhakarna, nor Indrajit, nor you yourself—none is capable of withstanding in battle that son of Dasharatha, who is equal to Indra."

Shloka 16 (yuddha.14.16)

देवान्तको वापि नरान्तको वा तथातिकायोऽतिरथो महात्मा । अकम्पनश्चाद्रिसमानसारः स्थातुं न शक्ता युधि राघवस्य ॥ १४.१६ ॥

devāntako vāpi narāntako vā tathātikāyo'tiratho mahātmā | akampanaścādrisamānasāraḥ sthātuṃ na śaktā yudhi rāghavasya ||

"Whether Devantaka or Narantaka, or the great chariot-warrior Atikaya, or Akampana, firm as a mountain—none of them is able to stand against Raghava in battle."

Shloka 17 (yuddha.14.17)

अयं च राजा व्यसनाभिभूतो मित्रैरमित्रप्रतिमैर्भवद्भिः । अन्वास्यते राक्षसनाशनार्थे तीक्ष्णः प्रकृत्या ह्यसमीक्षकारी ॥ १४.१७ ॥

ayaṃ ca rājā vyasanābhibhūto mitrairamitrapratimairbhavadbhiḥ | anvāsyate rākṣasanāśanārthe tīkṣṇaḥ prakṛtyā hyasamīkṣakārī ||

"This king, already overcome by vice, harsh by nature and given to acting without reflection, is now surrounded—for the destruction of the demon race—by friends such as you, who act as enemies in disguise."

Shloka 18 (yuddha.14.18)

अनन्तभोगेन सहस्रमूर्ध्ना नागेन भीमेन महाबलेन । बलात् परिक्षिप्तमिमं भवन्तो राजानमुत्क्षिप्य विमोचयन्तु ॥ १४.१८ ॥

anantabhogena sahasramūrdhnā nāgena bhīmena mahābalena | balāt parikṣiptamimaṃ bhavanto rājānamutkṣipya vimocayantu ||

"You should lift up and release this king, who lies forcibly coiled about by a terrible, mighty serpent of boundless folds and a thousand heads."

Shloka 19 (yuddha.14.19)

यावद्धि केशग्रहणात् सुहृद्भिः समेत्य सर्वैः परिपूर्णकामैः । निगृह्य राजा परिरक्षितव्यो भूतैर्यथा भीमबलैर्गृहीतः ॥ १४.१९ ॥

yāvaddhi keśagrahaṇāt suhṛdbhiḥ sametya sarvaiḥ paripūrṇakāmaiḥ | nigṛhya rājā parirakṣitavyo bhūtairyathā bhīmabalairgṛhītaḥ ||

"Just as one seized by a terrible and mighty evil spirit is forcibly restrained and saved by his own kin, even by the hair if need be, so too should all who truly wish the king's good come together and, restraining him, protect him."

Shloka 20 (yuddha.14.20)

सुवारिणा राघवसागरेण प्रच्छाद्यमानस्तरसा भवद्भिः । युक्तस्त्वयं तारयितुं समेत्य काकुत्स्थपातालमुखे पतन् सः ॥ १४.२० ॥

suvāriṇā rāghavasāgareṇa pracchādyamānastarasā bhavadbhiḥ | yuktastvayaṃ tārayituṃ sametya kākutsthapātālamukhe patan saḥ ||

"As this king is swiftly being engulfed by the ocean that is Raghava—full of excellent water—and is falling into the mouth of the netherworld that is Rama, it is fitting that all of you come together to save him."

Shloka 21 (yuddha.14.21)

इदं पुरस्यास्य सराक्षसस्य राज्ञश्च पथ्यं ससुहृज्जनस्य । सम्यग्घि वाक्यं स्वमतं ब्रवीमि नरेन्द्रपुत्राय ददातु मैथिलीम् ॥ १४.२१ ॥

idaṃ purasyāsya sarākṣasasya rājñaśca pathyaṃ sasuhṛjjanasya | samyagghi vākyaṃ svamataṃ bravīmi narendraputrāya dadātu maithilīm ||

"For the good of this city, its demon inhabitants, the king, and his own kinsmen, I speak this right and sound opinion, as my true counsel: let him give Maithili back to the prince."

Shloka 22 (yuddha.14.22)

परस्य वीर्यं स्वबलं च बुद्ध्वा स्थानं क्षयं चैव तथैव वृद्धिम् । तथा स्वपक्षेऽप्यनुमृश्य बुद्ध्या वदेत् क्षमं स्वामिहितं स मन्त्री ॥ १४.२२ ॥

parasya vīryaṃ svabalaṃ ca buddhvā sthānaṃ kṣayaṃ caiva tathaiva vṛddhim | tathā svapakṣe'pyanumṛśya buddhyā vadet kṣamaṃ svāmihitaṃ sa mantrī ||

"He alone is a true counsellor who, knowing both the enemy's strength and his own, and reflecting wisely upon the standing, the decline, and the rise of his own side as well, speaks what is fitting and beneficial to his master."