Valmiki Ramayana 5.52.8 — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 52, Shloka 8

दूतधर्म-परामर्शः

Envoy-Immunity and Royal Counsel in Ravana’s Court

Devanagari script

गृह्यन्ते यदि रोषेण त्वादृशोऽपि विचक्षणः।तत श्शास्त्रविपश्चित्त्वं श्रम एव हि केवलम्।।।।

Transliteration

gṛhyante yadi roṣeṇa tvādṛśo 'pi vicakṣaṇaḥ |

tataḥ śāstravipaścittvaṃ śrama eva hi kevalam ||

Translation

ଯଦି ତୁମ ପରି ବିଚକ୍ଷଣ ମନୁଷ୍ୟ ମଧ୍ୟ କ୍ରୋଧରେ ଆବିଷ୍ଟ ହୁଏ, ତେବେ ଶାସ୍ତ୍ରଜ୍ଞାନ ଓ ପାଣ୍ଡିତ୍ୟ କେବଳ ବ୍ୟର୍ଥ ପରିଶ୍ରମ ହୋଇଯାଏ।

Word by Word

• gṛhyante: are overpowered
• gṛhyante: Kriyā (क्रिया/Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √grah (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive sense: ‘are seized/overpowered’)

• yadi: if
• yadi: Hetu/Śarti (हेतु/Condition marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yadi (अव्यय)
• Form: शर्त-अव्यय (conditional conjunction)

• roṣeṇa: by anger
• roṣeṇa: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument or cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: roṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• tvādṛśaḥ: a person like you
• tvādṛśaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject of gṛhyante)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvādṛśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘one like you’

• api: even
• api: Sambandha/Emphasis (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अपि (particle): ‘even/also’

• vicakṣaṇaḥ: wise/discerning
• vicakṣaṇaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण of tvādṛśaḥ)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vicakṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Kārya-hetu (कार्य-हेतु/Result marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (consequential adverb): ‘then/therefore’

• śāstra-vipaścittvam: scriptural learning
• śāstra-vipaścittvam: Karta (कर्ता; predicate-noun with implied ‘is’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śāstra (प्रातिपदिक) + vipaścittva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (शास्त्रे विपश्चित्-भावः = scholarship in scriptures)

• śramaḥ: effort/labour
• śramaḥ: Pradhāna-predication (प्रधान; equational predicate)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• eva: only
• eva: Avadhāraṇa (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय

• hi: indeed
• hi: Nipāta (निपात/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle) giving emphasis/reason

• kevalam: mere
• kevalam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण of śramaḥ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kevala (प्रातिपदिक used adverbially)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव/क्रियाविशेषणवत् अव्यय: ‘merely’

Context

"Mighty king! killing this Hanuman is contrary to righteousness of kings. This is deplorable diplomacy and also unbecoming of you.

Characters & Entities

• Vibhīṣaṇa
• Rāvaṇa
• śāstra (scripture)

FAQs

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

True dharma requires mastery over anger; knowledge without self-control fails in the moment it is most needed.

What is the narrative situation?

Vibhīṣaṇa cautions Rāvaṇa that rage will nullify his discernment and lead to unlawful punishment of Hanumān.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The virtue of kṣamā and dama (forbearance and restraint), presented as the practical proof of genuine wisdom.