Shloka 25

दूतधर्म-परामर्शः

Envoy-Immunity and Royal Counsel in Ravana’s Court

Devanagari script

हिताश्च शूराश्च समाहिताश्च कुलेषु जाताश्च महागुणेषु।मनस्विनश्शस्त्रभृतां वरिष्ठाः कोट्यग्रतस्ते सुभृताश्च योधाः।।।।

Transliteration

hitāś ca śūrāś ca samāhitāś ca kuleṣu jātāś ca mahāguṇeṣu | manasvinaḥ śastrabhṛtāṁ variṣṭhāḥ koṭy-agratās te subhṛtāś ca yodhāḥ ||

Translation

നിന്റെ മുമ്പിൽ കോടിക്കണക്കിന് യോദ്ധാക്കൾ നില്ക്കുന്നു—ഹിതൈഷികളും ശൂരന്മാരും, സംയമിതരും സ്ഥിരചിത്തരുമായവർ, മഹാഗുണസമ്പന്നമായ ഉന്നത കുലങ്ങളിൽ ജനിച്ചവർ; മഹാമനസ്സുള്ളവർ, ആയുധധാരികളിൽ ശ്രേഷ്ഠർ, യഥോചിതമായി പോഷിക്കപ്പെട്ട സുവേതന യോദ്ധാക്കൾ.

Word by Word

हिताःwell-disposed, beneficial

चand

शूराःheroes, brave men

चand

समाहिताःsteadfast, disciplined

चand

कुलेषुin families/lineages

जाताःborn

चand

महागुणेषुin great virtues/qualities

मनस्विनःhigh-spirited, intelligent

शस्त्रभृताम्of weapon-bearers

वरिष्ठाःthe foremost

कोट्यग्रतःin the front ranks

तेyour

सुभृताःwell-supported, well-paid

चand

योधाःwarriors

Context

"You have with you well-wishers, courageous ones, who have good qualities born in a good race, who are noble, sensible people, wielders of weapons and well-paid warriors in crores.

Characters & Entities

Vibhīṣaṇa

Rāvaṇa

FAQs

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

A ruler’s dharma includes proper delegation and measured response: with ample forces and resources, one should avoid unlawful shortcuts and act through appropriate, organized means.

What is the narrative situation?

Vibhīṣaṇa underscores that Rāvaṇa has vast military support, implying there is no need to commit an adharma act (killing an envoy) out of insecurity or anger.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Composed leadership as an ideal—Vibhīṣaṇa points to disciplined strength as the proper basis for royal action.