Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 12, Shloka 29

युद्धकाण्डे द्वादशः सर्गः — रावणस्य परिषद्-सम्बोधनं कुम्भकर्णस्य नीत्युपदेशश्च

Ravana’s Council Address and Kumbhakarna’s Counsel

Devanagari script

सर्वमेतन्महाराजकृतमप्रतिमंतव ।विधीयेतसहास्माभिरादावेवास्यकर्मणः ।।6.12.29।।

Transliteration

sarvam etan mahārāja kṛtam apratimaṃ tava |

vidhīyeta sahāsmābhir ādāvevā sya karmaṇaḥ ||6.12.29||

Translation

All this, great king, has been done by you alone, a deed without equal; it would have been better had this course been undertaken in counsel with us from the very beginning.

Word by Word

• सर्वम्: all
• सर्वम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन; विशेषण (Nom/Acc singular)

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन (this)

• महाराज: O great king
• महाराज: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (महान् राजा); पुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन एकवचन (Vocative singular)

• कृतम्: done
• कृतम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) + कृत (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन (done)

• अप्रतिमम्: incomparable
• अप्रतिमम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ + प्रतिम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन; विशेषण (incomparable)

• तव: your
• तव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी एकवचन (Genitive singular: your)

• विधीयेत: should be done
• विधीयेत: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + धा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative); प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि/भावे (should be arranged/done)

• सह: together with
• सह: Sahakari (सहकारी)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; सहार्थक (with)

• अस्माभिः: by us
• अस्माभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया बहुवचन (Instrumental plural: by us)

• आदौ: at the beginning
• आदौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण-कालय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-निभ (locative used adverbially); आरम्भे (at the beginning)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (indeed/just)

• अस्य: of this
• अस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी एकवचन (Genitive singular: of this)

• कर्मणः: of the action
• कर्मणः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; षष्ठी एकवचन (Genitive singular: of the act)

Context

"Great king! If you had discussed with us about all this action earlier, it would have been very good."

Characters & Entities

• Kumbhakarṇa
• Rāvaṇa

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

A dharmic ruler seeks counsel and accepts accountability. Acting unilaterally—especially in morally charged matters—undermines rājadharma and leads to collective harm.

What is the narrative situation?

Kumbhakarṇa criticizes Rāvaṇa for acting alone in the matter that provoked war, instead of consulting his advisors earlier.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The virtue emphasized is good governance through consultation (mantra), highlighting the ethical role of advisors and deliberation in statecraft.