Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 6, Shloka 5

रावणस्य मन्त्रविचारः

Ravana’s Council on Strategy

Devanagari script

मन्त्रमूलंचविजयंप्रवदन्तिमनस्विनः ।।6.6.5।।तस्मद्वैरोचयेमन्त्रंरामंप्रतिमहाबलाः ।

Transliteration

mantramūlaṃ ca vijayaṃ pravadanti manasvinaḥ |

tasmād vai rocaye mantraṃ rāmaṃ prati mahābalāḥ ||6.6.5||

Translation

Bậc hiền trí nói rằng thắng lợi lấy mưu lược làm gốc. Vì thế, hỡi các dũng tướng đại lực, ta xin nêu lời bàn định, để đối diện với Rāma.

Word by Word

• mantramūlam: having counsel as its basis
• mantramūlam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mantra + mūla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (mantrasya mūlam: having counsel as its root) विशेषण (qualifying vijayam)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• vijayam: victory
• vijayam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vijaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• pravadanti: declare, say
• pravadanti: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra+vad (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन

• manasvinaḥ: the wise, thoughtful ones
• manasvinaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manasvin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• tasmāt: therefore
• tasmāt: Hetu (हेतु/Cause)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: तस्मात्-इत्यव्ययप्रयोग (ablatival adverb: therefore/from that)

• vai: indeed
• vai: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• rocaye: I propose / I consider
• rocaye: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ruc (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदी

• mantram: counsel, plan
• mantram: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mantra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• rāmam: Rama
• rāmam: Karma (कर्म/Object of prati)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• prati: towards, against
• prati: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/Target)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: prati (अव्यय)
• Form: उपसर्ग/अव्यय (preposition-like: towards/against, governing accusative)

• mahābalāḥ: the mighty ones
• mahābalāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā + bala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहि (those whose strength is great)

Context

"(Hanuman) After all a monkey in size, entered the inaccessible city of Lanka, destroyed it and saw Sita, daughter of king of Janaka."

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Rāvaṇa
• Rākṣasas (as addressees)

FAQs

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

Right action is guided by deliberation (mantra): Dharma-based leadership values thoughtful counsel over arrogance, especially in crisis.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa frames the coming confrontation with Rāma as requiring strategic consultation.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Strategic discernment—acknowledging that success depends on wise planning.