Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 52, Shloka 20

दूतधर्म-परामर्शः

Envoy-Immunity and Royal Counsel in Ravana’s Court

Devanagari script

साधुर्वा यदि वाऽसाधुः परैरेष समर्पितः।ब्रुवन् परार्थं परवान्न दूतो वधमर्हति।।।।

Transliteration

sādhur vā yadi vā asādhuḥ parair eṣa samarpitaḥ | bruvan parārthaṁ paravān na dūto vadham arhati ||

Translation

穏やかであれ苛烈であれ、彼は他者により遣わされた者。語るのは他者の目的であり、権も他者に属する。ゆえに使者は殺されるべきではない。

Word by Word

• साधुः: good, gentle
• साधुः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: साधु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण (adjective)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-निपात (particle of alternative)

• यदि: if
• यदि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/condition marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदि (अव्यय)
• Form: शर्तार्थक-अव्यय (conditional indeclinable)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-निपात (particle of alternative)

• असाधुः: not good, harsh, wicked
• असाधुः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: असाधु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• परैः: by others
• परैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• एषः: this (person)
• एषः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• समर्पितः: sent, delivered
• समर्पितः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject complement)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्+अर्प् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त-भूतकर्मणि-प्रत्यय (past passive participle/क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोगार्थ (sent/handed over)

• ब्रुवन्: speaking
• ब्रुवन्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण/participial modifier)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (present active participle/शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषण-भाव (while speaking)

• परार्थम्: another's purpose/message
• परार्थम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर+अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (परस्य अर्थः)

• परवान्: dependent, under another's control
• परवान्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परवन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (dependent on another)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negator)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negation particle)

• दूतः: messenger, envoy
• दूतः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• वधम्: killing, execution
• वधम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अर्हति: deserves
• अर्हति: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्ह् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

Context

"Whether he is soft or harsh, he has been sent by others. He is speaking on other's behalf and is dependent on them. An emissary does not deserve to be killed.

Characters & Entities

• Vibhīṣaṇa
• Rāvaṇa
• dūta (envoy—Hanumān)

FAQs

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

An envoy is protected by dharma regardless of tone or message, because he is a representative voice; killing him attacks the channel of truthful communication rather than addressing the actual adversary.

What is the narrative situation?

Vibhīṣaṇa formally states the rule of conduct: even if Hanumān spoke harshly, he remains an emissary and must not be executed.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Commitment to lawful conduct (maryādā) in conflict—Vibhīṣaṇa upholds diplomatic norms even in an enemy’s court.