Shloka 3

दूतधर्म-परामर्शः

Envoy-Immunity and Royal Counsel in Ravana’s Court

Devanagari script

तं रक्षोधिपतिं क्रुद्धं तच्च कार्यमुपस्थितम्।विदित्वा चिन्तयामास कार्यं कार्यविधौ स्थितः।।।।

Transliteration

taṃ rakṣodhipatiṃ kruddhaṃ tacca kāryam upasthitam |

viditvā cintayāmāsa kāryaṃ kāryavidhau sthitaḥ ||

Translation

Voyant le seigneur des rākṣasas en courroux et l’affaire pressante survenue, Vibhīṣaṇa, ferme dans le discernement de la juste conduite, réfléchit à l’acte qu’il convenait d’accomplir.

Word by Word

• tam: him
• tam: Karma (कर्म/Object of viditvā)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• rakṣaḥ-adhipatim: the lord of demons
• rakṣaḥ-adhipatim: Karma (कर्म; apposition to tam)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rakṣas (प्रातिपदिक) + adhipati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (रक्षसाम् अधिपतिः = lord of demons)

• kruddham: angry
• kruddham: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण of rakṣodhipatim)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kruddha (कृदन्त, √krudh)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त (PPP) used adjectivally

• tat: that
• tat: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण of kāryam)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• kāryam: the matter/mission
• kāryam: Karma (कर्म/Object of viditvā)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kārya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• upasthitam: that had arisen/come near
• upasthitam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण of kāryam)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: upa-√sthā (धातु) + क्त (PPP)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त (PPP) qualifying kāryam

• viditvā: having understood
• viditvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vid (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund): ‘having known’

• cintayāmāsa: pondered
• cintayāmāsa: Kriyā (क्रिया/Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √cint (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; परिप्रयोगः (periphrastic perfect-like form)

• kāryam: the course of action
• kāryam: Karma (कर्म/Object of cintayāmāsa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kārya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• kārya-vidhau: in the proper procedure
• kārya-vidhau: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kārya (प्रातिपदिक) + vidhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (कार्यस्य विधिः = proper procedure)

• sthitaḥ: being situated/standing
• sthitaḥ: Karta (कर्ता; implied subject = vibhīṣaṇaḥ from context)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √sthā (धातु) + क्त (PPP)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त (PPP) used predicatively

Context

By your order let some strong soldiers from one contingency go and capture the two sons of the king, to exhibit your power over the enemy.

Characters & Entities

• Vibhīṣaṇa
• Rāvaṇa
• rākṣasas

FAQs

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

Dharma here is practical discernment: even amid anger and crisis, one should pause and choose the right procedure (kāryavidhi) rather than act impulsively.

What is the narrative situation?

After Hanumān is seized in Laṅkā, Rāvaṇa is furious; Vibhīṣaṇa recognizes the tense moment and considers the proper response.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Vibhīṣaṇa’s prudence and steadiness—his commitment to right conduct and thoughtful decision-making under pressure.