Shloka 10

रावणस्य मन्त्रविचारः

Ravana’s Council on Strategy

Devanagari script

गुणदोषौवनिशिचत्य त्यक्त्यादैवव्यपाश्रयम् ।।6.6.10।।करिष्यामीतियःकार्यमुपेक्षेत्सनराधमः ।

Transliteration

guṇadoṣau va niścitya tyaktvā daivavyapāśrayam |

kariṣyāmīti yaḥ kāryam upekṣet sa narādhamaḥ ||6.6.10||

Translation

ຜູ້ໃດບໍ່ພິຈາລະນາຄຸນແລະໂທດ ລະທິ້ງການພຶ່ງພາໄດວະ (ພຣະປະສົງ/ຊະຕາ) ແລ້ວລົງມືເຮັດກິດດ້ວຍຄວາມຄິດວ່າ “ຂ້າແຕ່ຜູ້ດຽວຈະເຮັດໄດ້” — ຜູ້ນັ້ນແມ່ນຄົນຕໍ່າຊ້າທີ່ສຸດໃນບັນດາມະນຸດ

Word by Word

• yathā: just as
• yathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/comparison)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमान/प्रकार-अव्यय (as/just as)

• ime: these
• ime: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; निर्देशवाचक (demonstrative)

• puruṣāḥ: men
• puruṣāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puruṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• nityam: always
• nityam: Kala (काल/Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nitya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverbial accusative: always)

• uttama-adhama-madhyamāḥ: best, worst, and middling
• uttama-adhama-madhyamāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: uttama + adhama + madhyama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व; विशेषण (qualifying puruṣāḥ)

• evam: so, likewise
• evam: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकार-अव्यय (thus/in the same way)

• mantrāḥ: counsels, plans
• mantrāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mantra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: हेतौ/निश्चयार्थक-अव्यय (indeed/for)

• vijñeyāḥ: are to be understood
• vijñeyāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi+jñā (धातु) + tavya/ya (तव्यत्/य)
• Form: कृदन्त (gerundive/भाव्य: to be known), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (predicate)

• uttama-adhama-madhyamāḥ: as best, worst, and middling
• uttama-adhama-madhyamāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: uttama + adhama + madhyama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व; विशेषण (qualifying mantrāḥ)

Context

"He who fails to consider the merits and de merits, decides to do on his own and begins without faith in god saying, 'I' will do it, is a lowly one among men."

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• daiva (providence/ethical order)

FAQs

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

Dharma in governance requires discernment (guṇa-doṣa-vicāra) and humility. Acting from ego—“I alone”—without assessing consequences violates responsible action and truth-oriented judgment (Satya).

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa outlines standards of sound decision-making to his rākṣasa assembly in the wake of crisis caused by Hanumān.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The virtue taught is prudence: careful evaluation, non-egotism, and accountable initiative.