Shloka 4

दूतधर्म-परामर्शः

Envoy-Immunity and Royal Counsel in Ravana’s Court

Devanagari script

निश्चितार्थस्ततस्साम्ना पूज्यं शत्रुजिदग्रजम्।उवाच हितमत्यर्थं वाक्यं वाक्यविशारदः।।।।

Transliteration

niścitārthas tatas sāmnā pūjyaṃ śatrujid agrajam |

uvāca hitam atyarthaṃ vākyaṃ vākyaviśāradaḥ ||

Translation

പിന്നീട് തീരുമാനം ഉറപ്പാക്കി, വാക്കിൽ നിപുണനായ വിഭീഷണൻ ശത്രുജയിയായും പൂജ്യനുമായ തന്റെ അഗ്രജനെ സാമത്തോടെ, അത്യന്തം ഹിതകരമായ വചനങ്ങളാൽ അഭിസംബോധന ചെയ്തു.

Word by Word

• niścitārthaḥ: having decided the course
• niścitārthaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण of vākyaviśāradaḥ)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: niścita (कृदन्त, √ci with नि-) + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (निश्चितः अर्थः यस्य = whose purpose is decided)

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Kāla (काल/Temporal adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक-निपात)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb): ‘then/thereupon’

• sāmnā: by conciliation
• sāmnā: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sāman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन; ‘by conciliation/soothing words’

• pūjyam: worthy of reverence
• pūjyam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण of agrajam)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pūjya (कृदन्त, √pūj + यत्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; यत्-प्रत्यय (gerundive): ‘worthy of respect’

• śatrujit-agrajam: his elder brother, conqueror of foes
• śatrujit-agrajam: Karma (कर्म/Object of uvāca; addressee)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śatrujit (प्रातिपदिक) + agraja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (शत्रून् जयति इति शत्रुजित्; अग्रजम् = elder brother)

• uvāca: said/spoke
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया/Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• hitam: beneficial
• hitam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hita (कृदन्त, √dhā with hi-; lexicalized)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण of vākyam

• atyartham: very much
• atyartham: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atyartha (अव्ययभाव/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb): ‘exceedingly/very much’

• vākyam: speech/statement
• vākyam: Karma (कर्म/Object of uvāca)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vākya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• vākyaviśāradaḥ: the one skilled in speech
• vākyaviśāradaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vākya (प्रातिपदिक) + viśārada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (वाक्येषु विशारदः = skilled in speech)

Context

The mighty chief among the demon kings, a king of the night-roamers and the enemy of gods accepted the words of advice of his younger brother Vibhishana.ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē sundarakāṇḍē dvipañcāśassargaḥ৷৷Thus ends the fiftysecond sarga of Sundarakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.

Characters & Entities

• Vibhīṣaṇa
• Rāvaṇa

FAQs

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

Right counsel should be offered with restraint and respect; dharma is upheld not only by what is said but by how it is said—through conciliatory, beneficial speech.

What is the narrative situation?

Vibhīṣaṇa prepares to advise Rāvaṇa on how to treat the captured messenger (Hanumān), choosing a calming approach.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Vibhīṣaṇa’s tact and moral courage: he speaks truth for the good of the kingdom while honoring his elder brother.