Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 57, Shloka 13

प्रहस्तनिर्याणम्

Prahasta’s Departure and the Muster of the Rakshasa Host

Devanagari script

राजन्मन्त्रितपूर्वंनःकुशलैस्सहमन्त्रिभिः ।।।।विवादश्चापिनोवृत्तस्समवेक्ष्यपरस्परम् ।

Transliteration

rājan mantritapūrvaṃ naḥ kuśalaiḥ saha mantribhiḥ | vivādaś cāpi no vṛttaḥ samavekṣya parasparam || 6.57.13 ||

Translation

王よ、われらは以前、才ある大臣たちと共にこれを議し、互いに事を見比べて量った結果、我らの間にも異論が生じました。

Word by Word

• राजन्: O king
• राजन्: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन (Singular)

• मन्त्रितपूर्वम्: previously deliberated
• मन्त्रितपूर्वम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मन्त्रित-पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन (Singular); उपपद-तत्पुरुष/कर्मधारयभाव: "previously deliberated"

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

• कुशलैः: with the competent (ones)
• कुशलैः: Sahakari/Karana (सहकारी/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कुशल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), बहुवचन (Plural)

• सह: together with
• सह: Sahartha (सहार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह (अव्यय)
• Form: सहार्थक-अव्यय (with)

• मन्त्रिभिः: ministers
• मन्त्रिभिः: Sahakari/Karana (सहकारी/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्रिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), बहुवचन (Plural)

• विवादः: dispute
• विवादः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विवाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (and)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Nipata (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपेक्षार्थक-निपात (particle): "also/even"

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

• वृत्तः: arose
• वृत्तः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृत् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन: "occurred/arisen"

• समवेक्ष्य: having considered
• समवेक्ष्य: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + अव + ईक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund): "having considered"

• परस्परम्: mutually
• परस्परम्: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: परस्पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् (reciprocal adverb): "mutually/with one another"

Context

"O king! This was deliberated with capable ministers earlier, is it not It was reviewed with one another, and controversy arose."

Characters & Entities

• Prahasta
• Rāvaṇa
• Ministers (mantriṇaḥ)

FAQs

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

Good governance (rāja-dharma) requires consultation and honest review—even if it produces disagreement—before taking actions that affect many lives.

What is the narrative situation?

Prahasta reminds Rāvaṇa that the matter had already been discussed with ministers and that differing views had emerged.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Institutional responsibility: valuing counsel and acknowledging dissent rather than suppressing it.