Shloka 16

दूतधर्म-परामर्शः

Envoy-Immunity and Royal Counsel in Ravana’s Court

Devanagari script

कथं च धर्मार्थविनीतबुद्धिः परावरप्रत्ययनिश्चितार्थः।भवद्विधः कोपवशे हि तिष्ठेत् कोपं नियच्छन्ति हि सत्त्ववन्तः।।।।

Transliteration

kathaṁ ca dharmārthavinītabuddhiḥ parāvarapratyayaniścitārthaḥ |

bhavadvidhaḥ kopavaśe hi tiṣṭhet kopaṁ niyacchanti hi sattvavantaḥ ||

Translation

ധർമ്മവും അർത്ഥനീതിയും അഭ്യസിച്ച് വിനീതബുദ്ധിയുള്ള, ഹിതാഹിതം നിർണ്ണയിക്കാൻ കഴിവുള്ള നിങ്ങളെപ്പോലുള്ളവർ എങ്ങനെ കോപവശരായി നില്ക്കും? സത്ത്വവാന്മാർ കോപത്തെ നിയന്ത്രിക്കുന്നു.

Word by Word

• katham: how?
• katham: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः/प्रश्न-प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: katham (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्नार्थक-अव्यय (interrogative adverb)

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

• dharma-artha-vinīta-buddhiḥ: one whose intellect is trained in dharma and artha
• dharma-artha-vinīta-buddhiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक) + vinīta (कृदन्त, √nī/नी + vi उपसर्ग, क्त) + buddhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण-प्रयोगः (adjectival epithet); समासः: धर्मार्थयोः विनीतबुद्धिः (instructed in dharma and artha)

• para-avara-pratyaya-niścita-arthaḥ: one who has determined what is good and bad
• para-avara-pratyaya-niścita-arthaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक) + avara (प्रातिपदिक) + pratyaya (प्रातिपदिक) + niścita (कृदन्त, √ci/चि + nis उपसर्ग, क्त) + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण-प्रयोगः; समासः: परावरयोः प्रत्ययेन निश्चितोऽर्थः यस्य (one who has ascertained the matter by judging higher/lower, good/bad)

• bhavat-vidhaḥ: one like you
• bhavat-vidhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhavat (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + vidha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण-प्रयोगः; समासः: भवतः विधः (one like you)

• kopa-vaśe: under the sway of anger
• kopa-vaśe: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kopa (प्रातिपदिक) + vaśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; अधिकरण (locative of state): कोपस्य वशे (under the control of anger)

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अवधारण/हेतु (indeed/for)

• tiṣṭhet: should remain / would stand
• tiṣṭhet: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √sthā (स्था)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; धातु: √स्था (to stand/remain)

• kopam: anger
• kopam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kopa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कर्म (object)

• niyacchanti: restrain
• niyacchanti: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √yam (यम्) + ni उपसर्ग
• Form: लट् (present), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; धातु: √यम् (to restrain)

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अवधारण (indeed)

• sattva-vantaḥ: the steadfast/strong-minded
• sattva-vantaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sattva (प्रातिपदिक) + -vant (तद्धित-प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; गुणवाचक-नाम (those possessing sattva/fortitude)

Context

"You are well-versed in dharma and artha. Learned men first decide what is right or wrong (before imposing punishment). How are you swayed by unjust anger? Indeed courageous persons (like you) should control anger.

Characters & Entities

• Vibhīṣaṇa
• Rāvaṇa

FAQs

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

Self-mastery is central to dharma: righteous judgment requires controlling anger so decisions align with truth, justice, and long-term welfare.

What is the narrative situation?

Vibhīṣaṇa urges Rāvaṇa to abandon rage and decide punishment through dharma- and artha-informed discernment.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Kṣamā/dama (forbearance and restraint): the hallmark of true strength and sound kingship.