Chapter 10 — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 10

Valmiki Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda

Verse 10.5

स रावणं महात्मानं विजने मन्त्रिसंनिधौ। उवाच हितमत्यर्थं वचनं हेतुनिश्चितम्॥ प्रसाद्य भ्रातरं ज्येष्ठं सान्त्वेनोपस्थितक्रमः। देशकालार्थसंवादि दृष्टलोकपरावरः॥

sa rāvaṇaṃ mahātmānaṃ vijane mantrisaṃnidhau| uvāca hitamatyarthaṃ vacanaṃ hetuniścitam|| prasādya bhrātaraṃ jyeṣṭhaṃ sāntvenopasthitakramaḥ| deśakālārthasaṃvādi dṛṣṭalokaparāvaraḥ||

English Meaning

In retirement as also in presence only of his counsellors, Vibhīşaņa spoke to the high souled Rāvana words backed by reason, and greatly fraught with his welfare. And having, with soothing speech, pacified his elder brother and extended towards him the due civilities, that one, who through height of sentiment had noted excellence and the want of it, addressed (Vibhīş aņa) in words befitting the occasion and the place.

M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)