Shloka 48

सूर्य–कर्णोपदेशः

Sūrya’s Counsel to Karṇa on Kīrti and the Kuṇḍala

Devanagari script

राघव: सत्यचेष्टाभि: सम्यक्‌ च चरितेज्डितै: । यदा तत्त्वेन तुष्टो$भूत्‌ तत एनमपूजयत्‌,परंतु श्रीरामचन्द्रजीने उनकी सत्य चेष्टाओं, उत्तम आचरणों और मुख-नेत्र आदिके संकेतोंसे सूचित होनेवाले मनोभावोंकी सम्यक्‌ समीक्षा करके जब अच्छी तरह संतोष प्राप्त कर लिया, तब विभीषणका बहुत आदर किया

Transliteration

rāghavaḥ satyaceṣṭābhiḥ samyak ca cariteṣṭitaiḥ | yadā tattvena tuṣṭo 'bhūt tata enam apūjayat |

Translation

Rāghava (Śrī Rāma), après avoir examiné avec soin les efforts véridiques de Vibhīṣaṇa, sa conduite droite et la sincérité que trahissaient ses gestes et son visage, fut pleinement assuré de son intention véritable ; alors, s’appuyant sur ce discernement, il l’honora comme il se doit.

Word by Word

• [{'term': 'rāghavaḥ', 'definition': 'Rāghava

• descendant of Raghu—an epithet of Rāma'}, {'term': 'satya-ceṣṭābhiḥ', 'definition': 'by truthful endeavors/intentions

• actions rooted in truth'}, {'term': 'samyak', 'definition': 'properly, thoroughly, rightly'}, {'term': 'carita', 'definition': 'conduct, behavior, character as lived out'}, {'term': 'iṣṭitaiḥ (≈ iṅgitaiḥ/ceṣṭitaiḥ)', 'definition': 'gestures, indications, outward signs revealing inner intention (reading varies in transmission)'}, {'term': 'yadā', 'definition': 'when'}, {'term': 'tattvena', 'definition': 'in truth

• with discernment of reality'}, {'term': 'tuṣṭaḥ', 'definition': 'satisfied, assured, pleased'}, {'term': 'abhūt', 'definition': 'became'}, {'term': 'tataḥ', 'definition': 'then, thereafter'}, {'term': 'enam', 'definition': 'him (this person)'}, {'term': 'apūjayat', 'definition': 'honored, showed reverence, received respectfully'}]

Speaker

मार्कण्डेय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• मार्कण्डेय (Mārkaṇḍeya)
• राघव / श्रीराम (Rāghava / Śrī Rāma)
• विभीषण (Vibhīṣaṇa)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A leader should not act on suspicion or impulse; one should examine truthfulness, conduct, and consistent signs of intention, and only after gaining clear assurance (tattvena tuṣṭaḥ) extend honor or trust—thus aligning judgment with dharma.

What is happening in the narrative?

Mārkaṇḍeya narrates that Rāma, having carefully evaluated Vibhīṣaṇa’s sincerity through his truthful efforts, good conduct, and expressive indications, became convinced of his genuine intent and then received and honored him respectfully.