Shloka 13
दूतधर्म-परामर्शः
Envoy-Immunity and Royal Counsel in Ravana’s Court
प्रसीद लङ्केश्वर राक्षसेन्द्र धर्मार्थयुक्तं वचनं शृणुष्व।दूतानवध्यान् समयेषु राजन् सर्वेषु सर्वत्र वदन्ति सन्तः।।।।
prasīda laṅkeśvara rākṣasendra dharmārthayuktaṁ vacanaṁ śṛṇuṣva |
dūtān avadhyān samayeṣu rājan sarveṣu sarvatra vadanti santaḥ ||
«Serénate, oh señor de Laṅkā, oh rey de los Rākṣasas; escucha palabras fundadas en el dharma y en la prudente política. Los sabios declaran—siempre y en todo lugar—que a los emisarios no se les debe dar muerte.»
"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.
FAQs
Rāja-dharma in diplomacy: even enemies’ messengers are protected. Moral law restrains vengeance to preserve justice and the possibility of lawful negotiation.
Vibhīṣaṇa counsels Rāvaṇa not to execute Hanumān because he is a dūta (envoy).
Temperance and adherence to established ethical norms—wisdom that prioritizes lawful conduct over rage.