Shloka 21

दूतधर्म-परामर्शः

Envoy-Immunity and Royal Counsel in Ravana’s Court

Devanagari script

अपि चास्मिन् हते राजन्नान्यं पश्यामि खेचरम्।इह यः पुनरागच्छेत्परं पारं महोदधेः।।।।

Transliteration

api cāsmin hate rājan nānyaṁ paśyāmi khecaram | iha yaḥ punar āgacchet paraṁ pāraṁ mahodadheḥ ||

Translation

കൂടാതെ, രാജാവേ, അവൻ കൊല്ലപ്പെട്ടാൽ ഈ മഹാസമുദ്രത്തിന്റെ അപ്പുറത്തുനിന്ന് ആകാശമാർഗ്ഗേന വീണ്ടും ഇവിടെ വരാൻ കഴിയുന്ന മറ്റൊരു ഖേചരനെയും ഞാൻ കാണുന്നില്ല.

Word by Word

अपिalso, even

चand

अस्मिन्in this (case), when he

हतेwhen (he) is killed

राजन्O king

नnot

अन्यम्another

पश्यामिI see

खेचरम्sky-goer (one who can travel through the sky)

इहhere

यःwho (ever)

पुनःagain

आगच्छेत्might come, could return

परम्further, other

पारम्far shore

महोदधेःof the great ocean

Context

"O king! If he is killed, I do not see any one who can cross this great ocean and come by air to reach this place.

Characters & Entities

Vibhīṣaṇa

Rāvaṇa

Hanumān (implied as the sky-traveller)

FAQs

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

Dharma is aligned with foresight: righteous governance avoids needless killing that can provoke greater harm; wise action weighs long-term consequences over immediate rage.

What is the narrative situation?

Vibhīṣaṇa argues that killing Hanumān may not even serve Laṅkā’s interests, because Hanumān’s unique capacity implies a larger threat and a need for strategic response.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Prudence (viveka)—Vibhīṣaṇa reasons about capability, risk, and the larger conflict rather than focusing on revenge.