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336
 
THE RAMAYANA
 
इत्युक्तः परुषं वाक्यं न्यायवादी विभीषणः ।
उत्पपात गदापाणिश्चतुर्भिस्सह राक्षसैः ॥
 
On being told such harsh words, Vibhishana
the just jumped up (in the sky) with the
gada in
hand, along with
 
his
 
four ( other ) Rakshasas.
 
अब्रवीच्च तदा वाक्यं जातक्रोधो विभीषणः ॥
 
And with his anger aroused, Vibhishana
then spoke these words:
 
सत्वं भ्राताऽसि मे राजन् ब्रूहि मां यद्यदिच्छसि ।
ज्येष्टो 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
righteous 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.