Shloka 15

रावणस्य मन्त्रविचारः

Ravana’s Council on Strategy

Devanagari script

तस्मात्सुमन्त्रितंसाधुभवन्तोमतिसत्तमा: ।।6.6.15।।कार्यंसम्प्रतिपद्यन्तामेतत्कृत्यंमतंमम ।

Transliteration

tasmāt sumantritaṃ sādhu bhavanto matisattamāḥ |

kāryaṃ sampratipadyantām etat kṛtyaṃ mataṃ mama ||6.6.15||

Translation

Darum, ihr Besten der Verständigen, beratet wohl und recht, und legt den Weg des Handelns fest; dies ist mein wohl erwogenes Begehren.

Word by Word

• tasmāt: therefore
• tasmāt: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Ablative adverbial form; Pañcamī (Abl. 5) Ekavacana used as avyaya: "therefore/from that"

• sumantritam: well-deliberated
• sumantritam: Karma (कर्म) (as qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + mantra (प्रातिपदिक) + kta (क्त) from √mantr (मन्त्र् धातु)
• Form: Kta-participle used adjectivally; Napuṃsakalिङ्ग (n.), Dvitīyā (Acc. 2), Ekavacana (sg.); "well-counselled/well-deliberated" qualifying "kāryam"

• sādhu: properly
• sādhu: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sādhu (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb ("properly/well")

• bhavantaḥ: you (hon.)
• bhavantaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhavant (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (m.), Prathamā (Nom. 1), Bahuvacana (pl.); honorific 2nd person pronoun

• matisattamāḥ: O best-minded (wise ones)
• matisattamāḥ: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mati (प्रातिपदिक) + sattama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa compound (mati-sattama = "best in intellect"); Puṃliṅga (m.), Prathamā (Nom. 1), Bahuvacana (pl.); vocative sense by address

• kāryam: the task/what is to be done
• kāryam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kārya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakalिङ्ग (n.), Dvitīyā (Acc. 2), Ekavacana (sg.)

• sampratipadyantām: let (it) be undertaken
• sampratipadyantām: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-prati-√pad (पद् धातु)
• Form: Loṭ-lakāra (Imperative), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Bahuvacana (pl.), Ātmanepada; benedictive/command: "let them undertake/let it be proceeded with"

• etat: this
• etat: Karma (कर्म) (as qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakalिङ्ग (n.), Dvitīyā (Acc. 2), Ekavacana (sg.); viśeṣaṇa of "kṛtyam"

• kṛtyam: duty/required action
• kṛtyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṛtya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakalिङ्ग (n.), Dvitīyā (Acc. 2), Ekavacana (sg.)

• matam: (is) the opinion
• matam: Kriyā (क्रिया) (predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: man (मन् धातु)
• Form: Kta-participle (क्त) from √man; Napuṃsakalिङ्ग (n.), Prathamā/Dvitīyā (Nom./Acc.), Ekavacana (sg.); here predicative: "(is) my opinion"

• mama: my
• mama: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Ṣaṣṭhī (Gen. 6), Ekavacana (sg.)

Context

"O mighty Rakshasas! Wise elders say that through wise counsel victory is possible. Therefore, in the case of Rama I am thinking of seeking your advice."

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa

FAQs

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

Dharma-based governance prioritizes right deliberation and truth-seeking in counsel; decisions should be made carefully and ethically, not from pride or fear.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa formally requests his council to deliberate and finalize a plan as the threat from Rāma nears.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Deliberative prudence: the insistence on well-reasoned, proper counsel before action.