Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 29, Shloka 7
शुकसारणनिग्रहः / Ravana Rebukes Suka and Sārana; Spies Reconnoiter Rama’s Camp
नतावत्सदृशंनामसचिवैरुपजीविभिः ।विप्रियंनृपतेर्वक्तुंनिग्रहेप्रग्रहेप्रभोः ।।।।
na tāvat sadṛśaṃ nāma sacivair upajīvibhiḥ | vipriyaṃ nṛpater vaktuṃ nigrahe pragrahe prabhoḥ ||
அவன் கூறினான்—“அரசனின் அருளால் வாழும் அமைச்சர்கள், தண்டிக்கவும் பரிசளிக்கவும் வல்ல அரசனுக்கு மனவருத்தம் தரும் சொற்களைச் சொல்லுதல் பொருந்தாது.”
"It is not proper for those ministers dependent on a capable ruler who has the power to check and hold forth, to speak that which is unpleasant."
FAQs
The verse raises the dharmic tension between truthful counsel (satya-hitavacana) and courtly dependence: a ruler should welcome truth, yet Rāvaṇa frames “unpleasant truth” as improper—showing adharma in governance.
Rāvaṇa begins to chastise his messengers/ministers for reporting or implying facts he finds disagreeable, asserting royal authority over them.
The implied virtue is courageous, truthful counsel by ministers; Rāvaṇa’s reaction highlights the opposite—intolerance to corrective advice.