Shloka 6.6.11

रावणस्य मन्त्रविचारः — Ravana’s Council on Strategy

Devanagari script

यथेमेपुरुषानित्यमुत्तमाधममध्यमाः ।।6.6.11।।वंमन्त्राऽहिविज्ञेयाउत्तमाधममध्यमः ।

Transliteration

yatheme puruṣā nityaṃ uttamādhamamadhyamāḥ |

evaṃ mantrā ’pi vijñeyā uttamādhamamadhyamaḥ ||6.6.11||

Translation

Just as men are invariably of three kinds—excellent, middling, and base—so too should counsel be understood as threefold: excellent, middling, and base.

Context

"Just as among men there are good, intermediate and lowly people invariably their counsel is also of three kinds - good, mediocre and lowly."

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• ministers/counsel (mantra)

FAQs

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

Dharma requires discernment: not all advice is equal. Truth-aligned governance depends on recognizing the quality of counsel and choosing what leads to welfare (śreyas).

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa frames a theory of counsel for his court, preparing to distinguish good, mediocre, and bad advice.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Analytical judgment—evaluating guidance rather than accepting it blindly.