Shloka 5.49.11
रावणदर्शनम् — Hanuman Beholds Ravana in Court
दुर्धरेण प्रहस्तेन महापार्श्वेन रक्षसा।मन्त्रिभिर्मन्त्रतत्त्वज्ञैर्निकुम्भेन च मन्त्रिणा।।5.49.11।।सुखोपविष्टं रक्षोभिश्चतुर्भिर्बलदर्पितैः।कृत्स्नं परिवृतं लोकं चतुर्भिरिव सागरैः।।5.49.12।।
durdhareṇa prahastena mahāpārśvena rakṣasā | mantribhir mantratattvajñair nikumbhena ca mantriṇā ||5.49.11||
He was attended by the Rakṣasa ministers—Durdhara, Prahasta, Mahāpārśva, and the counsellor Nikumbha—men skilled in the principles of counsel.
He was attended by Durdhara, Prahasta, Mahaparsva and Nikumbha who were his learned ministers. Seated comfortably and attended by the four arrogant ministers, he was puffed with pride of their strength and appeared like the entire world surrounded by four oceans.
Counsel (mantra) is ethically potent only when aligned with dharma; skill in policy without righteousness becomes an instrument of adharma.
The narration introduces Ravana’s key ministers surrounding him in court as Hanuman looks on.
Implicitly, the ideal of righteous counsel: the verse foregrounds advisory competence, inviting comparison with dharmic kingship.