Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 57, Shloka 11

प्रहस्तनिर्याणम्

Prahasta’s Departure and the Muster of the Rakshasa Host

Devanagari script

आपत्संशयिताश्रेयोनात्रनिस्संशयीकृता ।।।।प्रतिलोमानुलोमंवायद्वानोमन्यसेहितम् ।

Transliteration

āpat-saṃśayitā śreyo nātra nissaṃśayī kṛtā | pratilomānulomaṃ vā yad vā no manyase hitam || 6.57.11 ||

Translation

災厄の時には、何が「より善い」かは疑わしくなり、ここには疑いなく定まるものはない。ゆえに、それが逆らう道か順う道かをよく考え、真に益あると汝が思うところを決せよ。

Word by Word

• आपत्: calamity; contingency
• आपत्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आपद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• संशयिता: doubtful; uncertain
• संशयिता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संशयित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); आपत्-विशेषण

• श्रेयः: the better course; welfare
• श्रेयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रेयस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• न: not
• न: Pratishedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negation)

• अत्र: here; in this matter
• अत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देश/प्रसङ्गवाचक-अव्यय (adverb): "here/in this matter"

• निःसंशयी: free from doubt
• निःसंशयी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निःसंशयिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); "without doubt"

• कृता: made; decided
• कृता: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन: "made/decided"

• प्रतिलोम्: contrary
• प्रतिलोम्: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रतिलोम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण अव्ययवत् (adverbial accusative): "against the grain/contrary"

• अनुलोम्: favourable
• अनुलोम्: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अनुलोम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण अव्ययवत् (adverbial accusative): "in accordance/favourable"

• वा: or
• वा: Vikalpa (विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (disjunctive particle): "or"

• यद्: whatever
• यद्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन (Singular): सम्बन्धसूचक (relative)

• वा: or
• वा: Vikalpa (विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (or)

• नः: of us
• नः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), बहुवचन (Plural): "of us"

• मन्यसे: you think
• मन्यसे: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मन् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन (Singular), आत्मनेपद

• हितम्: benefit; good
• हितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

Context

"If uncertain death comes it is good, not when it comes by not encountering. Think what is acceptable to you and what is not acceptable to you and that is acceptable to me."

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Prahasta

FAQs

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

Dharma requires discernment (viveka): in crisis, one must evaluate what truly serves the good (hita/śreyas), not merely what satisfies pride or impulse.

What is the narrative situation?

Amid war pressures, guidance is given that outcomes are uncertain; therefore the leader must judge which course is favorable or unfavorable and choose what seems beneficial.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Prudence and deliberation—choosing hita/śreyas through careful judgment.