Shloka 26

दूतधर्म-परामर्शः

Envoy-Immunity and Royal Counsel in Ravana’s Court

Devanagari script

तदेकदेशेन बलस्य तावत्केचित्तवाऽऽदेशकृतोऽभियान्तुतौ राजपुत्रौ विनिगृह्य मूढौ परेषु ते भावयितुं प्रभावम्।।।।

Transliteration

tad ekadeśena balasya tāvat kecit tavādeśakṛto 'bhiyāntu |

tau rājaputrau vinigṛhya mūḍhau pareṣu te bhāvayituṃ prabhāvam ||

Translation

Dann lass einige Truppen – auf deinen Befehl hin – mit einer Abteilung der Armee vorrücken und diese beiden törichten Prinzen ergreifen, damit deine Macht vor dem Feind demonstriert werden kann.

Word by Word

• तत्: then/that
• तत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/correlative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम (correlative)

• एकदेशेन: with a part
• एकदेशेन: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एक+देश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (एकः देशः)

• बलस्य: of the army
• बलस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तावत्: for the time being
• तावत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तावत् (अव्यय)
• Form: परिमाण/अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (so much/for now)

• केचित्: some (people)
• केचित्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; अनिश्चित-सर्वनाम (some)

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

• आदेशकृतः: those who carry out orders
• आदेशकृतः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आदेश+कृत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (आदेशं कुर्वन्ति/पालयन्ति)

• अभियान्तु: let them march forth/attack
• अभियान्तु: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि+या (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन

• तौ: those two
• तौ: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; सर्वनाम

• राजपुत्रौ: the two princes
• राजपुत्रौ: Karma (कर्म/Object apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राज+पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; तत्पुरुष (राज्ञः पुत्रौ)

• विनिगृह्य: having captured
• विनिगृह्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया/gerundial)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि+नि+ग्रह् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त (absolutive/gerund), कर्तरि (having seized/captured)

• मूढौ: foolish (two)
• मूढौ: Karma (कर्म/Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मूढ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; विशेषण (qualifying तौ)

• परेषु: among enemies/others
• परेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/among)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• ते: your
• ते: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• भावयितुम्: to make known, to display
• भावयितुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/Purpose)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु) (णिजन्त भावयति)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive), कर्तरि; णिजन्त (to cause to be manifest)

• प्रभावम्: power, might
• प्रभावम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Context

"If wise persons like you are also overpowered by unjust anger, then the mastery of the scriptures will become a mere fruitless exercise.

Characters & Entities

• Vibhīṣaṇa
• Rāvaṇa
• bala (army)
• enemies (para)

FAQs

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

The verse reflects rājadharma as pragmatic statecraft: a ruler may use limited force strategically (a detachment, not reckless escalation) to assert authority and deter enemies.

What is the narrative situation?

In the deliberations after Hanumān’s capture, counsel is given to act through ordered military measures—sending a contingent to seize two enemy princes—so as to demonstrate strength.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Strategic restraint and command discipline: action is proposed through controlled deployment and obedience to lawful command.