Shloka 2

दूतधर्म-परामर्शः

Envoy-Immunity and Royal Counsel in Ravana’s Court

Devanagari script

वधे तस्य समाज्ञप्ते रावणेन दुरात्मना।निवेदितवतो दौत्यं नानुमेने विभीषणः।।।।

Transliteration

vadhe tasya samājñapte rāvaṇena durātmanā | niveditavato dautyaṁ nānumene vibhīṣaṇaḥ ||

Translation

Nang iutos ng masamang-loob na si Rāvaṇa ang pagpatay sa kanya, hindi ito sinang-ayunan ni Vibhīṣaṇa, sapagkat naipahayag na niya ang kanyang sarili bilang sugo.

Word by Word

• vadhe: in/with regard to the slaying
• vadhe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Locative setting)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vadha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन

• tasya: of him
• tasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• samājñapte: when (it was) ordered
• samājñapte: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण; Locative absolute)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आ-√jñā (धातु) + क्त (past passive participle)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय, PPP), सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग; ‘when it was ordered’ (locative absolute with vadhe)

• rāvaṇena: by Ravana
• rāvaṇena: Kartr̥-karaṇa (कर्ता-करण/Agent in passive sense)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāvaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन

• durātmanā: by the wicked one
• durātmanā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण of rāvaṇena)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dur-ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (दुरात्मा = wicked-minded)

• niveditavataḥ: of the one who had reported
• niveditavataḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध; qualifies dūtasya implied)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नि-√vid (धातु) + क्तवत् (past active participle)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्तवत्), पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘of (him) who had declared/reported’

• dautyam: the mission of an envoy
• dautyam: Karma (कर्म/Object of anumene)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dautya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध/Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• anumene: approved/assented
• anumene: Kriyā (क्रिया/Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: anu-√man (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• vibhīṣaṇaḥ: Vibhishana
• vibhīṣaṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vibhīṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Context

Vibhishana did not approve of the killing of Hanuman, who had declared that he was an envoy (of Sri Rama) when the wicked Ravana ordered his murder.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Vibhīṣaṇa
• dūta (envoy—Hanumān implied)

FAQs

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

The dharma of diplomacy: once a person has openly declared envoy-status, killing him violates established righteous conduct and undermines truthful communication (satya) between opponents.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa, enraged, commands Hanumān’s execution; the narration notes Vibhīṣaṇa’s immediate dissent based on dharmic norms.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Vibhīṣaṇa’s adherence to dharma over loyalty to wrongdoing—he refuses to endorse an unjust order.