Shloka 19

दूतधर्म-परामर्शः

Envoy-Immunity and Royal Counsel in Ravana’s Court

Devanagari script

न चाप्यस्य कपेर्घाते कञ्चित्पश्याम्यहं गुणम्।तेष्वयं पात्यतां दण्डो यैरयं प्रेषितः कपिः।।।।

Transliteration

na cāpy asya kaper ghāte kañcit paśyāmy ahaṁ guṇam | teṣv ayaṁ pātyatāṁ daṇḍo yair ayaṁ preṣitaḥ kapiḥ ||

Translation

આ કપિનો વધ કરવામાં મને કોઈ ગુણ દેખાતો નથી. દંડ તો તેમના પર પાડવામાં આવે, જેમણે આ કપિને મોકલ્યો છે.

Word by Word

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• api: even
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (even/also)

• asya: of this one / his
• asya: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (इदम्-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; सर्वनाम; सम्बन्ध

• kapeḥ: of the monkey
• kapeḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kapi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध

• ghāte: in killing
• ghāte: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ghāta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; अधिकरण: घाते (in killing/slaying)

• kañcit: any
• kañcit: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kañcit (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; अनिश्चित-विशेषण (any)

• paśyāmi: I see
• paśyāmi: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dṛś (दृश्)
• Form: लट् (present), परस्मैपदम्, उत्तमपुरुष (1st), एकवचन

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (अस्मद्-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• guṇam: merit/benefit
• guṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कर्म

• teṣu: upon them
• teṣu: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (तद्-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), बहुवचन; अधिकरण/सम्प्रदान-प्राय (upon them)

• ayam: this
• ayam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (इदम्-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• pātyatām: let (it) be inflicted
• pātyatām: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √pat (पत्) (causative √pātay/पातय)
• Form: लोट् (imperative), कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; धातु: √पत् (to fall) → causative ‘to cause to fall’ → passive ‘let be inflicted’

• daṇḍaḥ: punishment
• daṇḍaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daṇḍa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्ता (of passive construction)

• yaiḥ: by whom
• yaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (यद्-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; सम्बन्ध/करण (by whom)

• ayam: this
• ayam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (इदम्-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• preṣitaḥ: sent
• preṣitaḥ: Kriya (क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √iṣ (इष्) + pra उपसर्ग
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्मणि (sent)

• kapiḥ: monkey
• kapiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kapi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्ता/विषय (subject)

Context

"I do not see any use in killing this monkey. Pronounce punishment on those who have sent this vanara.

Characters & Entities

• Vibhīṣaṇa
• Rāvaṇa
• kapi (Hanumān as envoy)

FAQs

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

Punishment (daṇḍa) should be directed with discernment: harming an emissary is unproductive and unethical; accountability should be assigned to the responsible principals behind the mission.

What is the narrative situation?

After Hanumān’s capture, debate arises in Rāvaṇa’s court about what should be done; Vibhīṣaṇa argues against execution and for a more rational, targeted response.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Justice tempered by reason—Vibhīṣaṇa emphasizes utility and fairness rather than impulsive vengeance.