Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 12, Shloka 7

युद्धकाण्डे द्वादशः सर्गः — रावणस्य परिषद्-सम्बोधनं कुम्भकर्णस्य नीत्युपदेशश्च

Ravana’s Council Address and Kumbhakarna’s Counsel

Devanagari script

प्रियाप्रियेसुखंदुःखंलाभालाभेहिताहिते ।धर्मकामार्थकृच्छ्रेषुयूयमर्हथवेदितुम् ।।6.12.7।।

Transliteration

priyāpriye sukhaṃ duḥkhaṃ lābhālābhe hitāhite | dharmakāmārthakṛcchreṣu yūyam arhatha veditum ||6.12.7||

Translation

In dilemmas concerning dharma, kāma, and artha, you are competent to discern the desirable from the undesirable, happiness from sorrow, gain from loss, and what is beneficial from what is harmful.

Word by Word

• प्रियाप्रिये: the pleasant and the unpleasant
• प्रियाप्रिये: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रिय+अप्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; द्वन्द्व-समास (itaretara-dvandva)

• सुखम्: happiness
• सुखम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• दुःखम्: sorrow
• दुःखम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुःख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• लाभालाभे: gain and loss
• लाभालाभे: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लाभ+अलाभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; द्वन्द्व-समास

• हिताहिते: good and bad
• हिताहिते: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हित+अहित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; द्वन्द्व-समास

• धर्मकामार्थकृच्छ्रेषु: in dharma, desire, wealth, and crises
• धर्मकामार्थकृच्छ्रेषु: अधिकरण (Adhikarana/Domain)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म+काम+अर्थ+कृच्छ्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्व (collective) + बहुपद-समास; 'in matters of dharma, kāma, artha, and difficulties'

• यूयम्: you (all)
• यूयम्: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• अर्हथ: are able/fit
• अर्हथ: क्रिया (Action/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्ह् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), मध्यम-पुरुष (2nd), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• वेदितुम्: to know
• वेदितुम्: प्रयोजन (Purpose)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विद् (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (Infinitive); 'to know/understand'

Context

"When there is doubt about dharma, artha and kama, you are capable of deciphering between desirable and undesirable, happiness and sorrow, gain and loss."

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• dharma
• artha
• kāma

FAQs

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

Ethical governance depends on discernment—evaluating actions by dharma (right), and also by consequences in artha/kāma, distinguishing benefit from harm.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa addresses his counselors, acknowledging their ability to advise amid complex moral and practical dilemmas.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Viveka (sound judgment) expected of ministers and elders in a royal assembly.