Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 35, Shloka 9

माल्यवानुपदेशः

Malyavan’s Counsel, Portents in Laṅkā, and the Proposal of Alliance

Devanagari script

हीयमानेनकर्तव्योराज्ञासन्धिस्समेवच ।।।।नशत्रुमवमन्येतज्यायान्कुर्वीतविग्रहम् ।

Transliteration

hīyamānena kartavyo rājñā sandhiḥ sama eva ca |

na śatrum avamanyeta jyāyān kurvīta vigraham ||

Translation

When a king’s power is declining, he should make peace with an equal; he should not despise an enemy—and if the opponent is stronger, he should refrain from hostility.

Word by Word

• hīyamānena: by/when declining
• hīyamānena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hā (धातु)
• Form: शानच्-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त (present passive participle), पुं/नपुंसक, तृतीया, एकवचन; 'by one who is declining/when (strength is) declining'

• kartavyaḥ: should be done
• kartavyaḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive/obligatory), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण

• rājñā: by the king
• rājñā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• sandhiḥ: alliance/peace
• sandhiḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sandhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• samaḥ: equal (terms)
• samaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (sandhiḥ)

• eva: indeed
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle): emphasis 'indeed/only'

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (conjunction): 'and'

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (negation): 'not'

• śatrum: enemy
• śatrum: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śatru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• avamanyeta: should despise
• avamanyeta: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ava + man (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; निषेधेन (na)

• jyāyān: (if) stronger
• jyāyān: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jyāyas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तुलनात्मक (comparative): 'stronger/superior' (subject of kurvīta)

• kurvīta: should make
• kurvīta: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• vigraham: hostility/war
• vigraham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vigraha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

Context

"O king! Whoever is well versed in all the fourteen sciences and is a follower of justice, he alone wins over enemies and rules the kingdom for long."

Characters & Entities

• enemy (śatru)

FAQs

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

Dharma rejects arrogance: a ruler must avoid contempt for adversaries and choose peace when necessary to prevent unjust destruction.

What is the narrative situation?

Mālyavān gives direct policy advice aimed at preventing Rāvaṇa from persisting in a losing, pride-driven conflict.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Humility and restraint—knowing when to cease hostility for the greater good.