Shloka 38
माल्यवानुपदेशः
Malyavan’s Counsel, Portents in Laṅkā, and the Proposal of Alliance
इदंवचस्तत्रनिशम्यमाल्यवान्परीक्ष्यरक्षोधिपतेर्मनःपुनः ।अनुत्तमेषूत्तमपौरुषोबलीबभूवतूष्णींसमवेक्ष्यरावणम् ।।।।
idaṃ vacas tatra niśamya mālyavān parīkṣya rakṣodhipater manaḥ punaḥ |
anuttameṣūttamapauruṣo balī babhūva tūṣṇīṃ samavekṣya rāvaṇam ||
Ayant ainsi parlé, le puissant Mālyavān—le plus éminent en conseil parmi les grands—examina de nouveau l’esprit du seigneur des rākṣasas ; puis, regardant Rāvaṇa, il demeura silencieux.
"When a king is losing strength, he should join hand s with the enemy who is equal to him. He should not disrespect the enemy but quit his hostility and join him (if the enemy is more powerful)."
FAQs
Even the best counsel has limits when a ruler’s mind is captured by adharma; dharma also includes recognizing when advice is being rejected and avoiding futile escalation.
After advising peace, Mālyavān observes that Rāvaṇa is inwardly unreceptive; realizing this, he stops speaking.
Discernment and restraint in speech—knowing when silence is wiser than further argument.