Shloka 8
विभीषणोपदेशः
Vibhishana’s Counsel to Ravana
अप्युपायैस्त्रिभिस्तातयोऽर्थःप्राप्तुंनशक्यते ।तस्यविक्रमकालांस्तान्युक्तानाहुर्मनीषिणः ।।।।
apy upāyais tribhis tāta yo 'rthaḥ prāptuṃ na śakyate |
tasya vikramakālāṃs tān yuktān āhur manīṣiṇaḥ ||
«Verehrter Vater, wenn ein Ziel nicht einmal durch die drei Mittel kluger Staatskunst zu erreichen ist, dann—so sagen die Weisen—ist die Zeit der gezügelten Tapferkeit gekommen: heldisches Handeln, mit gebührender Anstrengung vollzogen.»
"Dear father, intelligent people say that an act which cannot be accomplished by the three means (Sama - Conciliation, Dana - Gift, Bheda - Sowing dissension), should only be accomplished diligently by one's heroic deed. Therefore, we should think of war only after the above three means are employed."
FAQs
War/force is ethically last: dharma in governance requires exhausting peaceful and strategic means first; only when they fail does righteous valor become appropriate.
Vibhīṣaṇa advises Rāvaṇa on proper policy: attempt conciliation, gifts, and division before resorting to battle.
Practical wisdom (nīti) aligned with dharma—Vibhīṣaṇa advocates measured, rule-based decision-making rather than impulsive aggression.