Vibhishana's Rebuke of Indrajit

Shloka 1 (yuddha.87.1)

एवमुक्त्वा तु सौमित्रिं जातहर्षो विभीषणः। धनुष्पाणिं तमादाय त्वरमाणो जगाम सः ॥ 87.1 ॥

evamuktvā tu saumitriṃ jātaharṣo vibhīṣaṇaḥ| dhanuṣpāṇiṃ tamādāya tvaramāṇo jagāma saḥ || 87.1 ||

Having spoken thus to Lakshmana, Vibhishana, filled with joy, took him -- bow in hand -- and hastened on his way.

Shloka 2 (yuddha.87.2)

अविदूरं ततो गत्वा प्रविश्य तु महद् वनम्। अदर्शयत तत्कर्म लक्ष्मणाय विभीषणः ॥ 87.2 ॥

avidūraṃ tato gatvā praviśya tu mahad vanam| adarśayata tatkarma lakṣmaṇāya vibhīṣaṇaḥ || 87.2 ||

Going a short distance from there and entering a vast forest, Vibhishana showed Lakshmana the place where Indrajit was performing his rite.

Shloka 3 (yuddha.87.3)

नीलजीमूतसंकाशं न्यग्रोधं भीमदर्शनम्। तेजस्वी रावणभ्राता लक्ष्मणाय न्यवेदयत् ॥ 87.3 ॥

nīlajīmūtasaṃkāśaṃ nyagrodhaṃ bhīmadarśanam| tejasvī rāvaṇabhrātā lakṣmaṇāya nyavedayat || 87.3 ||

The glorious brother of Ravana pointed out to Lakshmana a banyan tree, dark as a rain cloud and terrible to behold.

Shloka 4 (yuddha.87.4)

इहोपहारं भूतानां बलवान् रावणात्मजः। उपहृत्य ततः पश्चात् संग्राममभिवर्तते ॥ 87.4 ॥

ihopahāraṃ bhūtānāṃ balavān rāvaṇātmajaḥ| upahṛtya tataḥ paścāt saṃgrāmamabhivartate || 87.4 ||

"Here the mighty Indrajit offers oblations to the spirits, and only afterward does he go forth to battle."

Shloka 5 (yuddha.87.5)

अदृश्यः सर्वभूतानां ततो भवति राक्षसः। निहन्ति समरे शत्रून् बध्नाति च शरोत्तमैः ॥ 87.5 ॥

adṛśyaḥ sarvabhūtānāṃ tato bhavati rākṣasaḥ| nihanti samare śatrūn badhnāti ca śarottamaiḥ || 87.5 ||

"Thereupon this demon becomes invisible to all beings; he slays his enemies in battle and binds them fast with his finest arrows."

Shloka 6 (yuddha.87.6)

तमप्रविष्टं न्यग्रोधं बलिनं रावणात्मजम्। विध्वंसय शरैर्दीप्तैः सरथं साश्वसारथिम् ॥ 87.6 ॥

tamapraviṣṭaṃ nyagrodhaṃ balinaṃ rāvaṇātmajam| vidhvaṃsaya śarairdīptaiḥ sarathaṃ sāśvasārathim || 87.6 ||

"So destroy that mighty Indrajit -- chariot, horses, charioteer and all -- with your blazing arrows, before he ever reaches the banyan tree."

Shloka 7 (yuddha.87.7)

तथेत्युक्त्वा महातेजाः सौमित्रिर्मित्रनन्दनः। बभूवावस्थितस्तत्र चित्रं विस्फारयन् धनुः ॥ 87.7 ॥

tathetyuktvā mahātejāḥ saumitrirmitranandanaḥ| babhūvāvasthitastatra citraṃ visphārayan dhanuḥ || 87.7 ||

Saying, "So be it," the greatly radiant Lakshmana, the delight of his friends, took his stand there, drawing his wondrous bow to its full stretch.

Shloka 8 (yuddha.87.8)

स रथेनाग्निवर्णेन बलवान् रावणात्मजः। इन्द्रजित् कवची खड्गी सध्वजः प्रत्यदृश्यत ॥ 87.8 ॥

sa rathenāgnivarṇena balavān rāvaṇātmajaḥ| indrajit kavacī khaḍgī sadhvajaḥ pratyadṛśyata || 87.8 ||

Then that mighty son of Ravana, Indrajit, appeared in his fire-hued chariot, clad in armour, sword at his side, his banner flying.

Shloka 9 (yuddha.87.9)

तमुवाच महातेजाः पौलस्त्यमपराजितम्। समाह्वये त्वां समरे सम्यग् युद्धं प्रयच्छ मे ॥ 87.9 ॥

tamuvāca mahātejāḥ paulastyamaparājitam| samāhvaye tvāṃ samare samyag yuddhaṃ prayaccha me || 87.9 ||

The mighty Lakshmana called out to that hitherto unconquered scion of Pulastya: "I challenge you to combat -- give me a fair fight."

Shloka 10 (yuddha.87.10)

एवमुक्तो महातेजा मनस्वी रावणात्मजः। अब्रवीत् परुषं वाक्यं तत्र दृष्ट्वा विभीषणम् ॥ 87.10 ॥

evamukto mahātejā manasvī rāvaṇātmajaḥ| abravīt paruṣaṃ vākyaṃ tatra dṛṣṭvā vibhīṣaṇam || 87.10 ||

Thus addressed, the proud and mighty son of Ravana, catching sight of Vibhishana there, spoke harsh words to him.

Shloka 11 (yuddha.87.11)

इह त्वं जातसंवृद्धः साक्षात् भ्राता पितुर्मम। कथं द्रुह्यसि पुत्रस्य पितृव्यो मम राक्षस ॥ 87.11 ॥

iha tvaṃ jātasaṃvṛddhaḥ sākṣāt bhrātā piturmama| kathaṃ druhyasi putrasya pitṛvyo mama rākṣasa || 87.11 ||

"O demon, you were born and raised here, own brother to my father. How, then, my father's brother, can you turn against his son?"

Shloka 12 (yuddha.87.12)

न ज्ञातित्वं न सौहार्दं न जातिस्तव दुर्मते। प्रमाणं न च सौदर्यं न धर्मो धर्मदूषण ॥ 87.12 ॥

na jñātitvaṃ na sauhārdaṃ na jātistava durmate| pramāṇaṃ na ca saudaryaṃ na dharmo dharmadūṣaṇa || 87.12 ||

"Kinship means nothing to you, O foolish one, nor friendship, nor noble birth, nor brotherly bond, nor righteousness itself, O defiler of dharma!"

Shloka 13 (yuddha.87.13)

शोच्यस्त्वमसि दुर्बुद्धे निन्दनीयश्च साधुभिः। यस्त्वं स्वजनमुत्सृज्य परभृत्यत्वमागतः ॥ 87.13 ॥

śocyastvamasi durbuddhe nindanīyaśca sādhubhiḥ| yastvaṃ svajanamutsṛjya parabhṛtyatvamāgataḥ || 87.13 ||

"You are pitiable, O evil-minded one, and worthy of censure by the virtuous, in that you have abandoned your own people to become the servant of another."

Shloka 14 (yuddha.87.14)

नैतच्छिथिलया बुद्ध्या त्वं वेत्सि महदन्तरम्। क्व च स्वजनसंवासः क्व च नीच पराश्रयः ॥ 87.14 ॥

naitacchithilayā buddhyā tvaṃ vetsi mahadantaram| kva ca svajanasaṃvāsaḥ kva ca nīca parāśrayaḥ || 87.14 ||

"With your feeble understanding you fail to see the vast difference: where does dwelling among one's own kin stand, and where does taking refuge with a base stranger?"

Shloka 15 (yuddha.87.15)

गुणवान् वा परजनः स्वजनो निर्गुणोऽपि वा। निर्गुणः स्वजनः श्रेयान् यः परः पर एव सः ॥ 87.15 ॥

guṇavān vā parajanaḥ svajano nirguṇo'pi vā| nirguṇaḥ svajanaḥ śreyān yaḥ paraḥ para eva saḥ || 87.15 ||

"Whether the stranger be virtuous or one's own kin devoid of virtue, still the virtueless kinsman is the better -- for he who is other remains, in truth, only other."

Shloka 16 (yuddha.87.16)

यः स्वपक्षं परित्यज्य परपक्षं निषेवते। स स्वपक्षे क्षयं याते पश्चात् तैरेव हन्यते ॥ 87.16 ॥

yaḥ svapakṣaṃ parityajya parapakṣaṃ niṣevate| sa svapakṣe kṣayaṃ yāte paścāt taireva hanyate || 87.16 ||

"He who forsakes his own side to serve the side of another is, once his own kin have perished, slain in the end even by those he served."

Shloka 17 (yuddha.87.17)

निरनुक्रोशता चेयं यादृशी ते निशाचर। स्वजनेन त्वया शक्यं पौरुषं रावणानुज ॥ 87.17 ॥

niranukrośatā ceyaṃ yādṛśī te niśācara| svajanena tvayā śakyaṃ pauruṣaṃ rāvaṇānuja || 87.17 ||

"Such is the pitilessness you have shown, O night-roaming demon! Only one of our own kindred, O brother of Ravana, could be capable of such a deed."

Shloka 18 (yuddha.87.18)

इत्युक्तो भ्रातृपुत्रेण प्रत्युवाच विभीषणः। अजानन्निव मच्छीलं किं राक्षस विकत्थसे ॥ 87.18 ॥

ityukto bhrātṛputreṇa pratyuvāca vibhīṣaṇaḥ| ajānanniva macchīlaṃ kiṃ rākṣasa vikatthase || 87.18 ||

Thus addressed by his brother's son, Vibhishana replied: "O demon, why do you rant on so, as though you did not know my true nature?"

Shloka 19 (yuddha.87.19)

राक्षसेन्द्रसुतासाधो पारुष्यं त्यज गौरवात्। कुले यद्यप्यहं जातो रक्षसां क्रूरकर्मणाम्। गुणो यः प्रथमो नॄणां तन्मे शीलमराक्षसम् ॥ 87.19 ॥

rākṣasendrasutāsādho pāruṣyaṃ tyaja gauravāt| kule yadyapyahaṃ jāto rakṣasāṃ krūrakarmaṇām| guṇo yaḥ prathamo nṝṇāṃ tanme śīlamarākṣasam || 87.19 ||

"O wicked son of the demon king! Out of regard for our elders, give up this harshness. Even though I was born into the race of demons who do cruel deeds, that virtue which is foremost among men is my true nature -- and it is not demonic at all."

Shloka 20 (yuddha.87.20)

न रमे दारुणेनाहं न चाधर्मेण वै रमे। भ्रात्रा विषमशीलोऽपि कथं भ्राता निरस्यते ॥ 87.20 ॥

na rame dāruṇenāhaṃ na cādharmeṇa vai rame| bhrātrā viṣamaśīlo'pi kathaṃ bhrātā nirasyate || 87.20 ||

"I take no delight in cruelty, nor do I take delight in unrighteousness. How can a brother be cast off by his brother, even if his ways should differ?"

Shloka 21 (yuddha.87.21)

धर्मात् प्रच्युतशीलं हि पुरुषं पापनिश्चयम्। त्यक्त्वा सुखमवाप्नोति हस्तादाशीविषं यथा ॥ 87.21 ॥

dharmāt pracyutaśīlaṃ hi puruṣaṃ pāpaniścayam| tyaktvā sukhamavāpnoti hastādāśīviṣaṃ yathā || 87.21 ||

"In forsaking a man of sinful resolve whose conduct has strayed from righteousness, one finds happiness, just as one does in shaking a venomous serpent from one's hand."

Shloka 22 (yuddha.87.22)

परस्वहरणे युक्तं परदाराभिमर्शकम्। त्याज्यमाहुर्दुरात्मानं वेश्म प्रज्वलितं यथा ॥ 87.22 ॥

parasvaharaṇe yuktaṃ paradārābhimarśakam| tyājyamāhurdurātmānaṃ veśma prajvalitaṃ yathā || 87.22 ||

"The wise say that an evil man given to seizing others' wealth and violating others' wives should be forsaken, as one abandons a house that is on fire."

Shloka 23 (yuddha.87.23)

परस्वानां च हरणं परदाराभिमर्शनम्। सुहृदामतिशङ्का च त्रयो दोषाः क्षयावहाः ॥ 87.23 ॥

parasvānāṃ ca haraṇaṃ paradārābhimarśanam| suhṛdāmatiśaṅkā ca trayo doṣāḥ kṣayāvahāḥ || 87.23 ||

"Seizing another's wealth, violating another's wife, and excessive suspicion of one's own friends -- these three faults bring ruin."

Shloka 24 (yuddha.87.24)

महर्षीणां वधो घोरः सर्वदेवैश्च विग्रहः। अभिमानश्च रोषश्च वैरित्वं प्रतिकूलता ॥ 87.24 ॥

maharṣīṇāṃ vadho ghoraḥ sarvadevaiśca vigrahaḥ| abhimānaśca roṣaśca vairitvaṃ pratikūlatā || 87.24 ||

The terrible slaying of great sages, waging war against all the gods, arrogance, wrath, enmity and perversity --

Shloka 25 (yuddha.87.25)

एते दोषा मम भ्रातुर्जीवितैश्वर्यनाशनाः। गुणान् प्रच्छादयामासुः पर्वतानिव तोयदाः ॥ 87.25 ॥

ete doṣā mama bhrāturjīvitaiśvaryanāśanāḥ| guṇān pracchādayāmāsuḥ parvatāniva toyadāḥ || 87.25 ||

these faults, which destroy both life and sovereignty, have veiled my brother's good qualities, just as rain clouds veil the mountains.

Shloka 26 (yuddha.87.26)

दोषैरेतैः परित्यक्तो मया भ्राता पिता तव। नेयमस्ति पुरी लङ्का न च त्वं न च ते पिता ॥ 87.26 ॥

doṣairetaiḥ parityakto mayā bhrātā pitā tava| neyamasti purī laṅkā na ca tvaṃ na ca te pitā || 87.26 ||

"Because of these very faults, I abandoned my brother, your father. Neither will this city of Lanka survive, nor you, nor your father."

Shloka 27 (yuddha.87.27)

अतिमानश्च बालश्च दुर्विनीतश्च राक्षस। बद्धस्त्वं कालपाशेन ब्रूहि मां यद् यदिच्छसि ॥ 87.27 ॥

atimānaśca bālaśca durvinītaśca rākṣasa| baddhastvaṃ kālapāśena brūhi māṃ yad yadicchasi || 87.27 ||

"O demon, you are excessively proud, callow and undisciplined, and already bound in the noose of Death -- say to me whatever you wish."

Shloka 28 (yuddha.87.28)

अद्येह व्यसनं प्राप्तं यन्मां परुषमुक्तवान्। प्रवेष्टुं न त्वया शक्यं न्यग्रोधं राक्षसाधम ॥ 87.28 ॥

adyeha vyasanaṃ prāptaṃ yanmāṃ paruṣamuktavān| praveṣṭuṃ na tvayā śakyaṃ nyagrodhaṃ rākṣasādhama || 87.28 ||

"O basest of demons, in speaking such harsh words to me today, you have brought calamity upon yourself here -- you shall never be able to reach that banyan tree."

Shloka 29 (yuddha.87.29)

धर्षयित्वा च काकुत्स्थं न शक्यं जीवितुं त्वया। युध्यस्व नरदेवेन लक्ष्मणेन रणे सह। हतस्त्वं देवताकार्यं करिष्यसि यमक्षयम् ॥ 87.29 ॥

dharṣayitvā ca kākutsthaṃ na śakyaṃ jīvituṃ tvayā| yudhyasva naradevena lakṣmaṇena raṇe saha| hatastvaṃ devatākāryaṃ kariṣyasi yamakṣayam || 87.29 ||

"Having dared to assail this scion of the Kakutsthas, you cannot hope to live. Fight, then, in battle with Lakshmana, godlike among men -- once slain, you shall render service to the gods in the abode of Yama."

Shloka 30 (yuddha.87.30)

निदर्शयस्वात्मबलं समुद्यतं कुरुष्व सर्वायुधसायकव्ययम्। न लक्ष्मणस्यैत्य हि बाणगोचरं त्वमद्य जीवन् सबलो गमिष्यसि ॥ 87.30 ॥

nidarśayasvātmabalaṃ samudyataṃ kuruṣva sarvāyudhasāyakavyayam| na lakṣmaṇasyaitya hi bāṇagocaraṃ tvamadya jīvan sabalo gamiṣyasi || 87.30 ||

"Show now the full measure of your strength; spend all your weapons and arrows. For once you have come within range of Lakshmana's arrows, you shall not go from here alive today, you and your army together."