Shloka 13

रावणस्य मन्त्रविचारः

Ravana’s Council on Strategy

Devanagari script

बह्व्योऽपिमतीर्गत्वामन्त्रिणामर्थनिर्णये ।।6.6.13।।पुनर्यत्रैकतांप्राप्तस्समन्त्रोमध्यमस्स्मृतः ।

Transliteration

bahvyo ’pi matīr gatvā mantriṇām arthanirṇaye |

punar yatraikatāṃ prāptaḥ sa mantro madhyamaḥ smṛtaḥ ||6.6.13||

Translation

جب کسی معاملے کے فیصلے میں وزیروں کی بہت سی رائیں نکلیں، پھر آخرکار وہ ایک رائے پر جمع ہو جائیں، تو ایسی مشاورت کو درمیانی درجے کی کہا جاتا ہے۔

Word by Word

• bahvyaḥ: many
• bahvyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता) (as qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bahu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (f.), Prathamā (Nom. 1), Bahuvacana (pl.); viśeṣaṇa of "matīḥ"

• api: also/even
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध) (particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; nipāta/particle (emphasis: "even/also")

• matīḥ: opinions/views
• matīḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (f.), Dvitīyā (Acc. 2), Bahuvacana (pl.)

• gatvā: having adopted/after taking
• gatvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: gam (गम् धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय), indeclinable verbal; "having gone/after adopting"

• mantriṇām: of the ministers/counsellors
• mantriṇām: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mantrin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (m.), Ṣaṣṭhī (Gen. 6), Bahuvacana (pl.)

• artha-nirṇaye: in the decision of the matter
• artha-nirṇaye: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: artha (प्रातिपदिक) + nirṇaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (षष्ठी/कर्मधारय-सम्भव) compound; Puṃliṅga (m.), Saptamī (Loc. 7), Ekavacana (sg.)

• punaḥ: again
• punaḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: punaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb

• yatra: where/when
• yatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण) (relative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; relative adverb ("where/when")

• ekatām: unity/unanimity
• ekatām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ekatā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (f.), Dvitīyā (Acc. 2), Ekavacana (sg.)

• prāptaḥ: having attained
• prāptaḥ: Karta (कर्ता) (as predicate participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-āp (आप् धातु)
• Form: Kta-participle (क्त), Puṃliṅga (m.), Prathamā (Nom. 1), Ekavacana (sg.); used predicatively with "saḥ mantraḥ"

• saḥ: that
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (m.), Prathamā (Nom. 1), Ekavacana (sg.)

• mantraḥ: counsel/advice
• mantraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mantra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (m.), Prathamā (Nom. 1), Ekavacana (sg.)

• madhyamaḥ: middling/mediocre
• madhyamaḥ: Karta (कर्ता) (as qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: madhyama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (m.), Prathamā (Nom. 1), Ekavacana (sg.); viśeṣaṇa of "mantraḥ"

• smṛtaḥ: is considered
• smṛtaḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया) (passive predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: smṛ (स्मृ धातु)
• Form: Kta-participle (क्त) in passive sense; Puṃliṅga (m.), Prathamā (Nom. 1), Ekavacana (sg.); "is considered/said"

Context

"The conclusion in which many ministers have different points of view and attain unanimity in decision after meeting different points of view is a mediocre vision."

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• ministers (mantriṇaḥ)

FAQs

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

Dharma permits debate, but seeks convergence for effective action. Satya is approached through discussion that finally yields a shared conclusion, though with more friction than the ideal.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa continues classifying counsel, describing a ‘middling’ form where initial disagreement eventually resolves into unanimity.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Pragmatic cooperation—moving from plurality of views to workable unity.