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336
 
THE RAMAYANA
 
इत्युक्तः परुषं वाक्यं न्यायवादी विभीषणः ।
उत्पपात गदापाणिश्चतृर्भिस्सह राक्षसैः ॥
 
On hearing such harsh words, Vibhi-
shana the just, jumped up (in the sky)
with the gada in his hand, along with
four (other) Rakshasas.
 
अब्रवीच्च तदा वाक्यं जातक्रोधो विभीषणः ॥
 
And with his anger aroused, Vibhi-
shana then spoke these words:
 
स त्वं भ्राताऽसि मे राजन् ब्रूहि मां यद्यदिच्छसि ।
ज्येष्ठो मान्यः पितृसमो न च धर्मपथे स्थितः ॥
 
"O King, you are my brother. You
may say what you like to me.
 
The eldest
 
brother is to be honoured as equal to a
father. But you do not follow the righte-
Cous way.
 
सुलभाः पुरुषा राजन् सततं प्रियवादिनः ।
अप्रियस्य च पथ्यस्य वक्ता श्रोता च दुर्लभः ॥
 
o king, men who speak always
agreeably are easily available, but he
who speaks disagreeably though for one's
good is indeed rare; so is he who will
listen to it.