Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 6, Shloka 11

रावणस्य मन्त्रविचारः

Ravana’s Council on Strategy

Devanagari script

यथेमेपुरुषानित्यमुत्तमाधममध्यमाः ।।6.6.11।।वंमन्त्राऽहिविज्ञेयाउत्तमाधममध्यमः ।

Transliteration

yatheme puruṣā nityaṃ uttamādhamamadhyamāḥ |

evaṃ mantrā ’pi vijñeyā uttamādhamamadhyamaḥ ||6.6.11||

Translation

وكما أنّ الناس على الدوام ثلاثةُ أصناف: فاضلٌ ووسطٌ ودونٌ، كذلك ينبغي أن يُعرَف الرأيُ والمشورةُ ثلاثيَّةً: عليا ووسطى ودنيا.

Word by Word

• aikamatyam: unanimity
• aikamatyam: Karma (कर्म/Object of upāgamya)
• Type: Noun
• Root: eka + matya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (एकं मत्यम्/मतिः: one opinion/unanimity)

• upāgamya: having reached
• upāgamya: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल/Prior action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: upa+gam (धातु) + lyap (ल्यप्)
• Form: ल्यबन्त-अव्यय (gerund): having approached/attained

• śāstra-dṛṣṭena: with a scripturally guided
• śāstra-dṛṣṭena: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śāstra + dṛṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (शास्त्रेण दृष्टः: seen/approved by scripture) विशेषण (qualifying cakṣuṣā)

• cakṣuṣā: with the eye/vision
• cakṣuṣā: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: cakṣus (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• mantriṇaḥ: ministers
• mantriṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mantrin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• yatra: where
• yatra: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Context)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yatra (अव्यय)
• Form: देश/प्रसङ्ग-अव्यय (where/when)

• niratāḥ: engaged, devoted
• niratāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ni+ram (धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: कृदन्त (PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying mantriṇaḥ)

• tam: that
• tam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• āhuḥ: they call
• āhuḥ: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ah (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• mantram: counsel
• mantram: Karma (कर्म/Object complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mantra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• uttamam: best
• uttamam: Karma (कर्म/Object complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: uttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying mantram)

Context

"Just as among men there are good, intermediate and lowly people invariably their counsel is also of three kinds - good, mediocre and lowly."

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa

FAQs

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

Dharma requires discernment: not all advice is equal. Truth-aligned governance depends on recognizing the quality of counsel and choosing what leads to welfare (śreyas).

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa frames a theory of counsel for his court, preparing to distinguish good, mediocre, and bad advice.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Analytical judgment—evaluating guidance rather than accepting it blindly.