Shloka 5.52.13

दूतधर्म-परामर्शः (Envoy-Immunity and Royal Counsel in Ravana’s Court)

Devanagari script

प्रसीद लङ्केश्वर राक्षसेन्द्र धर्मार्थयुक्तं वचनं शृणुष्व।दूतानवध्यान् समयेषु राजन् सर्वेषु सर्वत्र वदन्ति सन्तः।।।।

Transliteration

prasīda laṅkeśvara rākṣasendra dharmārthayuktaṁ vacanaṁ śṛṇuṣva |

dūtān avadhyān samayeṣu rājan sarveṣu sarvatra vadanti santaḥ ||

Translation

“Be calm, O lord of Laṅkā, O king of the Rākṣasas; hear words grounded in dharma and sound polity. The wise declare—always and everywhere—that emissaries are not to be slain.”

Context

"O lord of Lanka! O king of demons! be pleased to listen to my words which are the essence of dharma and artha. The elders have declared that the emissaries should not be killed by any means.

Characters & Entities

• Vibhīṣaṇa
• Rāvaṇa
• Laṅkā
• Dūta (emissary/messenger)
• Sants/elders (santaḥ)

FAQs

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

Rāja-dharma in diplomacy: even enemies’ messengers are protected. Moral law restrains vengeance to preserve justice and the possibility of lawful negotiation.

What is the narrative situation?

Vibhīṣaṇa counsels Rāvaṇa not to execute Hanumān because he is a dūta (envoy).

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Temperance and adherence to established ethical norms—wisdom that prioritizes lawful conduct over rage.