Shloka 5
सुन्दरकाण्डे अष्टपञ्चाशः सर्गः
हनुमद्वृत्तान्तकथनम्, सीताभिज्ञान-प्रदानम्, लङ्कादाह-वर्णनम्
यश्चार्थस्तत्त्र वक्तव्यो गतैरस्माभिरात्मवान्।रक्षितव्यं च यत्तत्र तद्भवान्व्याकरोतु नः।।।।
yaś cārthas tatra vaktavyo gatair asmābhir ātmavān |
rakṣitavyaṃ ca yat tatra tad bhavān vyākarotu naḥ ||
यदा वयं निवर्तिष्यामः, तदा त्वम् आत्मवान् सन् तत्र वक्तव्यं यदस्ति तदस्मान् प्रति ब्रूहि; यच्च तत्र रक्षितव्यं मौनेन स्थापनीयम्, तदपि नः सम्यग्व्याकरोतु भवान्॥
"You are wise and you should tell us in detail what is to be told and what has to be hidden when we report."
FAQs
Vāc-dharma (ethics of speech): truth should be spoken with discernment—some facts must be communicated for duty, while some must be protected to prevent harm.
A speaker requests a prudent person to clarify what should be reported and what should be withheld when they present their account.
Viveka (discernment) and saṃyama (restraint), especially in communication.