Shloka 18

रावणस्य मन्त्रविचारः

Ravana’s Council on Strategy

Devanagari script

समुद्रमुच्छोषयतिवीर्येणान्यत्करोतिवा ।।6.6.18।।अस्मिन्नेवंगतेकार्येविरुद्धेवानरैस्सह ।हितंपुरेचसैन्येचसर्वसम्मन्त्रयतांमम ।।6.6.19।।

Transliteration

samudram ucchōṣayati vīryeṇa anyat karoti vā |

asmin evaṃ gate kārye viruddhe vānaraiḥ saha |

hitaṃ pure ca sainye ca sarvaṃ sammantrayatāṃ mama ||6.6.18-6.6.19||

Translation

അവൻ തന്റെ വീര്യത്താൽ സമുദ്രം പോലും വറ്റിച്ചുകളയാം—അല്ലെങ്കിൽ മറ്റേതെങ്കിലും അത്ഭുതകർമ്മം നിർവഹിക്കാം. കാര്യങ്ങൾ ഇങ്ങനെ വന്നപ്പോൾ വാനരന്മാർ നമ്മുടെ വിരോധികളായിരിക്കുന്നു; അതിനാൽ നഗരത്തിനും സൈന്യത്തിനും ഹിതകരമായതെല്ലാം എനിക്കായി പൂർണ്ണമായി ആലോചിച്ചു ഉപദേശം നൽകുക.

Word by Word

• samudram: the ocean
• samudram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: samudra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (m.), Dvitīyā (Acc. 2), Ekavacana (sg.)

• ucchoṣayati: dries up
• ucchoṣayati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ud-√śuṣ (शुष् धातु) (causative)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (Present), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana (sg.), Parasmaipada; Ṇijanta (causative): "causes to dry up"

• vīryeṇa: by (his) power
• vīryeṇa: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vīrya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakalिङ्ग (n.), Tṛtīyā (Instr. 3), Ekavacana (sg.)

• anyat: something else
• anyat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakalिङ्ग (n.), Dvitīyā (Acc. 2), Ekavacana (sg.); object of "karoti"

• karoti: does
• karoti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (कृ धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (Present), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana (sg.), Parasmaipada

• vā: or
• vā: Vikalpa (विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; disjunctive particle

• asmin: in this
• asmin: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga/Napuṃsaka, Saptamī (Loc. 7), Ekavacana (sg.)

• evam: thus
• evam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb ("thus/in this way")

• gate: when (it) has come to/when it is so
• gate: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण) (locative absolute)
• Type: Verb
• Root: gam (गम् धातु)
• Form: Kta-participle (क्त) used in locative absolute; Saptamī (Loc. 7), Ekavacana (sg.), Napuṃsaka agreeing with implied "kārye"/"asmin"

• kārye: in the matter/task
• kārye: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kārya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakalिङ्ग (n.), Saptamī (Loc. 7), Ekavacana (sg.); with locative absolute construction

• viruddhe: when opposed/hostile
• viruddhe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण) (as qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: viruddha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakalिङ्ग (n.), Saptamī (Loc. 7), Ekavacana (sg.); qualifying "kārye"

• vānaraḥ: with the vanaras
• vānaraḥ: Sahakāraka (सहकारक) / Sahārtha (सहार्थ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vānara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (m.), Tṛtīyā (Instr. 3), Bahuvacana (pl.)

• saha: together with
• saha: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: saha (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; preposition-like indeclinable meaning "with"; governs instrumental

• hitam: what is beneficial
• hitam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakalिङ्ग (n.), Dvitīyā (Acc. 2), Ekavacana (sg.); object of "sammantrayatām"

• pure: in the city
• pure: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pur (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (f.), Saptamī (Loc. 7), Ekavacana (sg.)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; conjunction

• sainye: in the army
• sainye: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sainya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakalिङ्ग (n.), Saptamī (Loc. 7), Ekavacana (sg.)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; conjunction

• sarvam: all
• sarvam: Karma (कर्म) (as qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakalिङ्ग (n.), Dvitīyā (Acc. 2), Ekavacana (sg.); qualifying "hitam"

• sammantrayatām: deliberate (and advise)
• sammantrayatām: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-√mantr (मन्त्र् धातु)
• Form: Loṭ-lakāra (Imperative), Madhyama-puruṣa (2nd), Bahuvacana (pl.), Ātmanepada; polite command: "deliberate/advise"

• mama: for me/my
• mama: Sampradāna/Prayojana (सम्प्रदान/प्रयोजन) (beneficiary by genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Ṣaṣṭhī (Gen. 6), Ekavacana (sg.)

Context

"He who decides, after deliberating with his well-wishers, with capable ministers of good counsel, relatives of common interest or friends before undertaking his task and tries with faith in god is said to be best among men."

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• ocean (samudra)
• Vānara
• Laṅkā (city implied)
• army (sainya)

FAQs

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

Dharma in leadership includes realistic assessment of an opponent’s capability and prioritizing the welfare of citizens and soldiers through comprehensive, truth-oriented counsel.

What is the narrative situation?

With war imminent and the enemy alliance formed, Rāvaṇa urges his council to propose a plan that safeguards both Laṅkā and its forces.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Strategic foresight: anticipating extraordinary moves and planning for public and military welfare together.