Shloka 8
विभीषणोपदेशः
Vibhishana’s Counsel to Ravana
अप्युपायैस्त्रिभिस्तातयोऽर्थःप्राप्तुंनशक्यते ।तस्यविक्रमकालांस्तान्युक्तानाहुर्मनीषिणः ।।।।
apy upāyais tribhis tāta yo 'rthaḥ prāptuṃ na śakyate |
tasya vikramakālāṃs tān yuktān āhur manīṣiṇaḥ ||
പിതാവേ, മൂന്നു ഉപായങ്ങളാലും ലക്ഷ്യം നേടാൻ കഴിയാതിരുന്നാൽ, അപ്പോൾ മാത്രമേ യുക്തമായ പരിശ്രമത്തോടെ നിയന്ത്രിത പരാക്രമം—വീരകർമ്മത്തിന്റെ സമയം വരുന്നതെന്ന് ജ്ഞാനികൾ പറയുന്നു.
"Dear father, intelligent people say that an act which cannot be accomplished by the three means (Sama - Conciliation, Dana - Gift, Bheda - Sowing dissension), should only be accomplished diligently by one's heroic deed. Therefore, we should think of war only after the above three means are employed."
FAQs
War/force is ethically last: dharma in governance requires exhausting peaceful and strategic means first; only when they fail does righteous valor become appropriate.
Vibhīṣaṇa advises Rāvaṇa on proper policy: attempt conciliation, gifts, and division before resorting to battle.
Practical wisdom (nīti) aligned with dharma—Vibhīṣaṇa advocates measured, rule-based decision-making rather than impulsive aggression.