Shloka 24

दूतधर्म-परामर्शः

Envoy-Immunity and Royal Counsel in Ravana’s Court

Devanagari script

पराक्रमोत्साहमनस्विनां च सुरासुराणामपि दुर्जयेन।त्वया मनोनन्दन नैतानां युद्धायतिर्नाशयतुं न युक्ता।।।।

Transliteration

parākrama-utsāha-manasvināṁ ca surāsurāṇām api durjayena | tvayā manonandana naitānāṁ yuddhāyatiḥ nāśayituṁ na yuktā ||

Translation

ഹേ ജനഹൃദയാനന്ദനേ! പരാക്രമവും ഉത്സാഹവും മഹാമനസ്സും ഉള്ള ദേവന്മാരെയും അസുരന്മാരെയും പോലും ജയിക്കാനാകാത്ത അജേയനായ നീ—ഈ രാക്ഷസന്മാർക്കായി യുദ്ധാവസരം വ്യർത്ഥമായി നശിപ്പിക്കുന്നത് യുക്തമല്ല.

Word by Word

• पराक्रमोत्साहमनस्विनाम्: of the valiant, energetic, high-spirited (ones)
• पराक्रमोत्साहमनस्विनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पराक्रम+उत्साह+मनस्विन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्व/समुच्चयार्थ (पराक्रम-उत्साह-मनस्विनः)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय

• सुरासुराणाम्: of gods and demons
• सुरासुराणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर+असुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (सुराश्च असुराश्च)

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अपेक्षार्थक/सम्भावनार्थक-अव्यय (even)

• दुर्जयेन: by the invincible (one)
• दुर्जयेन: Karana (करण/Agent-instrument in passive sense)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर्जय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (invincible)

• त्वया: by you
• त्वया: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• मनोनन्दन: O delight of the mind
• मनोनन्दन: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस्+नन्दन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (मनसः नन्दनः)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negator)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय

• एतानाम्: of these (ones)
• एतानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• युद्धायतिः: prospect of war
• युद्धायतिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युद्ध+आयति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (युद्धस्य आयतिः = prospect of war)

• नाशयितुम्: to destroy, to ruin
• नाशयितुम्: Karma (कर्म/Infinitival object)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नश्/नाशय् (णिजन्त from नश् धातु) (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive), कर्तरि; णिजन्त (causative)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negator)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय

• युक्ता: proper, appropriate
• युक्ता: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate complement)
• Type: Verb
• Root: युज् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त-भूतकर्मणि (past passive participle/क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय (proper/fit)

Context

"O delighter of demons! even the gods and demons who are endowed with valour and energy cannot win you. You are invincible. It is not proper for you to lose chances of a good war.

Characters & Entities

• Vibhīṣaṇa
• Rāvaṇa
• sura (devas)
• asura
• rākṣasas (implied by 'naitānām')

FAQs

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

Dharma is presented as right conduct befitting one’s station: a ruler should not pursue petty, dishonorable acts (like killing an envoy) that forfeit honor and strategic advantage.

What is the narrative situation?

Vibhīṣaṇa continues to dissuade Rāvaṇa by appealing to his self-image as an invincible warrior and by arguing that executing Hanumān is tactically and ethically unsound.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Diplomatic tact—Vibhīṣaṇa couches moral correction in language of honor and reputation to maximize persuasion.