Shloka 13

रावणस्य मन्त्रविचारः

Ravana’s Council on Strategy

Devanagari script

बह्व्योऽपिमतीर्गत्वामन्त्रिणामर्थनिर्णये ।।6.6.13।।पुनर्यत्रैकतांप्राप्तस्समन्त्रोमध्यमस्स्मृतः ।

Transliteration

bahvyo ’pi matīr gatvā mantriṇām arthanirṇaye |

punar yatraikatāṃ prāptaḥ sa mantro madhyamaḥ smṛtaḥ ||6.6.13||

Translation

事を裁断するにあたり、重臣たちが多くの異なる見解に至りながら、のちに一つにまとまるなら、その議は「中ほどの策」と記される。

Word by Word

• bahvyaḥ: many
• bahvyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता) (as qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bahu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (f.), Prathamā (Nom. 1), Bahuvacana (pl.); viśeṣaṇa of "matīḥ"

• api: also/even
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध) (particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; nipāta/particle (emphasis: "even/also")

• matīḥ: opinions/views
• matīḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (f.), Dvitīyā (Acc. 2), Bahuvacana (pl.)

• gatvā: having adopted/after taking
• gatvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: gam (गम् धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय), indeclinable verbal; "having gone/after adopting"

• mantriṇām: of the ministers/counsellors
• mantriṇām: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mantrin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (m.), Ṣaṣṭhī (Gen. 6), Bahuvacana (pl.)

• artha-nirṇaye: in the decision of the matter
• artha-nirṇaye: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: artha (प्रातिपदिक) + nirṇaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (षष्ठी/कर्मधारय-सम्भव) compound; Puṃliṅga (m.), Saptamī (Loc. 7), Ekavacana (sg.)

• punaḥ: again
• punaḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: punaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb

• yatra: where/when
• yatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण) (relative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; relative adverb ("where/when")

• ekatām: unity/unanimity
• ekatām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ekatā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (f.), Dvitīyā (Acc. 2), Ekavacana (sg.)

• prāptaḥ: having attained
• prāptaḥ: Karta (कर्ता) (as predicate participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-āp (आप् धातु)
• Form: Kta-participle (क्त), Puṃliṅga (m.), Prathamā (Nom. 1), Ekavacana (sg.); used predicatively with "saḥ mantraḥ"

• saḥ: that
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (m.), Prathamā (Nom. 1), Ekavacana (sg.)

• mantraḥ: counsel/advice
• mantraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mantra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (m.), Prathamā (Nom. 1), Ekavacana (sg.)

• madhyamaḥ: middling/mediocre
• madhyamaḥ: Karta (कर्ता) (as qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: madhyama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (m.), Prathamā (Nom. 1), Ekavacana (sg.); viśeṣaṇa of "mantraḥ"

• smṛtaḥ: is considered
• smṛtaḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया) (passive predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: smṛ (स्मृ धातु)
• Form: Kta-participle (क्त) in passive sense; Puṃliṅga (m.), Prathamā (Nom. 1), Ekavacana (sg.); "is considered/said"

Context

"The conclusion in which many ministers have different points of view and attain unanimity in decision after meeting different points of view is a mediocre vision."

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• ministers (mantriṇaḥ)

FAQs

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

Dharma permits debate, but seeks convergence for effective action. Satya is approached through discussion that finally yields a shared conclusion, though with more friction than the ideal.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa continues classifying counsel, describing a ‘middling’ form where initial disagreement eventually resolves into unanimity.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Pragmatic cooperation—moving from plurality of views to workable unity.