Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 52, Shloka 27

दूतधर्म-परामर्शः

Envoy-Immunity and Royal Counsel in Ravana’s Court

Devanagari script

निशाचराणामधिपोऽनुजस्य विभीषणस्योत्तमवाक्यमिष्टम्।जग्राह बुद्ध्या सुरलोकशत्रु र्महाबलो राक्षसराजमुख्यः।।।।

Transliteration

niśācarāṇām adhipo 'nujasya vibhīṣaṇasyottamavākyam iṣṭam |

jagrāha buddhyā suralokaśatrur mahābalo rākṣasarājamukhyaḥ ||

Translation

Ketua agung raja-raja Rākṣasa, penguasa para pengembara malam dan musuh alam para dewa, yang maha perkasa itu menerima dengan kebijaksanaan nasihat terbaik yang berkenan daripada adiknya, Vibhīṣaṇa.

Word by Word

• निशाचराणाम्: of the night-rangers (rakshasas)
• निशाचराणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निशाचर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (निशायां चरन्ति)

• अधिपः: lord
• अधिपः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अधिप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अनुजस्य: of the younger brother
• अनुजस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनुज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• विभीषणस्य: of Vibhishana
• विभीषणस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विभीषण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• उत्तमवाक्यम्: excellent speech/advice
• उत्तमवाक्यम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उत्तम+वाक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (उत्तमं वाक्यम्)

• इष्टम्: pleasing, approved
• इष्टम्: Karma (कर्म/Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इष्ट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (dear/approved)

• जग्राह: accepted, took
• जग्राह: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ग्रह् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• बुद्ध्या: with understanding
• बुद्ध्या: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सुरलोकशत्रुः: enemy of the world of gods
• सुरलोकशत्रुः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुरलोक+शत्रु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (सुरलोकस्य शत्रुः)

• महाबलः: mighty
• महाबलः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा+बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (महान् बलः यस्य)

• राक्षसराजमुख्यः: chief among demon-kings
• राक्षसराजमुख्यः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस+राज+मुख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (राक्षसराजेषु मुख्यः)

Context

"O destroyer of foes, O unassailable king of demon! calm down. Only after carefully considering what is proper and improper decide on the punishment to be imposed".

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Vibhīṣaṇa
• niśācara (night-roamers/rākṣasas)
• suraloka (realm of the gods)

FAQs

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

Even powerful rulers should be guided by wise counsel; accepting good advice is itself a dharmic act of governance.

What is the narrative situation?

The sarga concludes with Rāvaṇa, despite his hostility to the gods, choosing to accept Vibhīṣaṇa’s excellent counsel.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Teachability and deliberation in rulership—the capacity to listen to sound advice rather than act purely from rage.