Shloka 12
रावणस्य मन्त्रविचारः
Ravana’s Council on Strategy
ऐकमत्यमुपागम्यशास्त्रदृष्टेनचक्षुषा ।।6.6.12।।मन्त्रिणोयत्रनिरतास्तमाहुर्मन्त्रमुत्तमम् ।
aikamatyam upāgamya śāstradṛṣṭena cakṣuṣā |
mantriṇo yatra niratās tam āhur mantram uttamam ||6.6.12||
On appelle le meilleur conseil celui où les ministres, regardant avec l’œil du śāstra, se rassemblent dans l’unanimité et demeurent fermement attachés à cette décision.
"When all ministers are unanimous and come to one conclusion based on sastras, and having come together remain firm, such counsel is said to be the best."
FAQs
Dharma in statecraft is collective, śāstra-informed deliberation leading to unified action. Satya here is ‘seeing with śāstra’—testing opinions against enduring ethical and practical standards.
Rāvaṇa defines what constitutes ‘best counsel’ for ministers while addressing his court after Hanumān’s disruption.
Responsible governance: consensus grounded in principled knowledge rather than impulse.