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Shloka 7

महापार्श्वस्य परामर्शः

Mahāpārśva’s Counsel and Rāvaṇa’s Confession of Brahmā’s Curse

उपप्रदानंसान्त्वंवाभेदंवाकुशलैःकृतम् ।समतिक्रम्यदण्डेनसिद्धिमर्थेषुरोचये ।।।।

upapradānaṃ sāntvaṃ vā bhedaṃ vā kuśalaiḥ kṛtam |

samatikramya daṇḍena siddhim artheṣu rocaye ||

Die von den Weisen gebrauchten Mittel—Gaben, Beschwichtigung oder Zwietracht—beiseite lassend, empfehle ich, das Ziel durch daṇḍa zu erreichen: durch Strafgewalt und Kraft.

उपप्रदानम्gift/tribute
उपप्रदानम्:
उपाय (Means)
TypeNoun
Rootउप-प्रदान (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; अत्र विकल्प-समुच्चय में (as a means)
सान्त्वम्conciliation
सान्त्वम्:
उपाय (Means)
TypeNoun
Rootसान्त्व (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन
वाor
वा:
विकल्प (Disjunction)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootवा (अव्यय)
Formविकल्प-निपात (or)
भेदम्dissension
भेदम्:
उपाय (Means)
TypeNoun
Rootभेद (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; (policy of) dissension
वाor
वा:
विकल्प (Disjunction)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootवा (अव्यय)
Formविकल्प-निपात (or)
कुशलैःby the wise/skilled
कुशलैः:
कर्ता (Agent/Doer)
TypeNoun
Rootकुशल (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; कर्तृकरणभाव (by the skilled)
कृतम्done/employed
कृतम्:
विशेषण (Qualifier)
TypeAdjective
Rootकृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
Formभूतकृदन्त, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; उपप्रदानम्/सान्त्वम्/भेदम् इत्येतत् विशेषण
समतिक्रम्यhaving set aside
समतिक्रम्य:
क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootसम्-अति-क्रम् (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृदन्त)
Formक्त्वान्त/ल्यबन्त अव्यय (Gerund), पूर्वकाल (having passed over/dispensed with)
दण्डेनby force/punishment
दण्डेन:
करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
TypeNoun
Rootदण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन
सिद्धिम्success
सिद्धिम्:
कर्म (Karma/Object)
TypeNoun
Rootसिद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन
अर्थेषुin objectives/matters
अर्थेषु:
अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Domain)
TypeNoun
Rootअर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचन; विषय (in matters/aims)
रोचयेI recommend/approve
रोचये:
क्रिया (Verb/Action)
TypeVerb
Rootरुच् (धातु) (कारयति)
Formलट्-लकार (Present), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद; णिच् (Causative) अर्थे ‘I recommend/approve’

"Leaving aside charity, conciliation or even by showing dissension, the three means resorted to by the wise people, you will attain success by force."

D
Daṇḍa (force/punishment)

FAQs

It contrasts righteous governance with tyranny. Dharma allows force only within justice and restraint; here force is recommended as the primary tool, severed from moral legitimacy.

A counselor advises Rāvaṇa to disregard diplomatic measures and to rely on coercion to achieve his ends during the crisis of impending war.

The implied virtue is wise discernment (viveka) in policy and ethics; the counsel instead elevates coercion over righteousness.