Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 52, Shloka 18

दूतधर्म-परामर्शः

Envoy-Immunity and Royal Counsel in Ravana’s Court

Devanagari script

शूरेण वीरेण निशाचरेन्द्र सुरासुराणामपि दुर्जयेन।त्वया प्रगल्भाः सुरदैत्यसङ्घा जिताश्च युद्धेष्वसकृन्नरेन्द्राः।।।।

Transliteration

śūreṇa vīreṇa niśācarendra surāsurāṇām api durjayena | tvayā pragalbhāḥ suradaitya-saṅghā jitāś ca yuddheṣv asakṛn narendrāḥ ||

Translation

ໂອ ຈອມເຈົ້າແຫ່ງຣາກສະສະ! ໂດຍທ່ານຜູ້ກ້າຫານ ວີຣະບຸລຸດ ແລະຍາກຈະພິຊິດແມ່ນກະທັ້ງເທວະແລະອະສຸຣະ ຫມູ່ທັບເທວະແລະໄທຕະຍະຜູ້ກ້າກະຫານ ພ້ອມທັງກະສັດຫຼາຍພະອົງ ໄດ້ພ່າຍແພ້ໃນສົງຄາມຊ້ຳແລ້ວຊ້ຳອີກ

Word by Word

• śūreṇa: by the brave
• śūreṇa: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śūra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; करण (instrumental)

• vīreṇa: by the heroic
• vīreṇa: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vīra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; करण

• niśācara-indra: O king of demons
• niśācara-indra: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: niśācara (प्रातिपदिक) + indra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th), एकवचन; समासः: निशाचराणाम् इन्द्रः (king of night-rangers)

• sura-asurāṇām: of gods and demons
• sura-asurāṇām: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sura (प्रातिपदिक) + asura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन; सम्बन्ध; द्वन्द्व: सुराश्च असुराश्च

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

• durjayena: by the invincible
• durjayena: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: durjaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; करण; दुर्-उपसर्गयुक्त (hard to conquer)

• tvayā: by you
• tvayā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (युष्मद्-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; सर्वनाम; करण

• pragalbhāḥ: bold/strong
• pragalbhāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pragalbha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; विशेषण

• sura-daitya-saṅghāḥ: hosts of gods and daityas
• sura-daitya-saṅghāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sura (प्रातिपदिक) + daitya (प्रातिपदिक) + saṅgha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; कर्ता; समासः: सुरदैत्यानां सङ्घाः (hosts of gods and daityas)

• jitāḥ: conquered
• jitāḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ji (जि)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; कर्मणि-भाव (having been conquered)

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

• yuddheṣu: in wars
• yuddheṣu: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yuddha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), बहुवचन; अधिकरण (in battles)

• asakṛt: repeatedly
• asakṛt: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: asakṛt (अव्यय)
• Form: काल/आवृत्ति-वाचक अव्यय (adverb of frequency)

• narendrāḥ: kings
• narendrāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara (प्रातिपदिक) + indra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; कर्ता; समासः: नराणाम् इन्द्राः (kings of men)

Context

"You are the king of demons. Hosts of gods and daityas efficient in wars are conquered by you again and again since you are a brave warrior invincible to gods and demons.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Vibhīṣaṇa
• niśācara (rākṣasa)
• sura (devas)
• daitya
• asura
• narendra (kings)

FAQs

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

Dharma here is implied through restraint: one who is truly powerful need not prove strength through an unrighteous act like killing a messenger; might should serve right conduct, not override it.

What is the narrative situation?

Vibhīṣaṇa continues addressing Rāvaṇa in the assembly, building rhetorical momentum by recalling Rāvaṇa’s past victories to dissuade him from a dishonorable decision.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Strategic wisdom in speech—Vibhīṣaṇa uses praise (stuti) as a tool to guide a superior toward a dharmic choice.