Sloka & Translation

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[Vibhishana advises Ravana against slaying of an emissary -- elaborates on the code of conduct of a king]

तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा वानरस्य महात्मनः।

आज्ञापयद्वधं तस्य रावणः क्रोधमूर्छितः।।5.52.1।।


महात्मनः of the great, तस्य वानरस्य of vanara's, तत् वचनम् the speech, श्रुत्वा on hearing, रावणः Ravana, क्रोधमूर्छितः overwhelmed with anger, तस्य his, वधम् slaying, आज्ञापयत् ordered.

Hearing the great vanara's speech, Ravana overwhelmed with anger ordered the execution of Hanuman.
वधे तस्य समाज्ञप्ते रावणेन दुरात्मना।

निवेदितवतो दौत्यं नानुमेने विभीषणः।।5.52.2।।


दुरात्मना by the wicked self, रावणेन by Ravana, तस्य his, वधे killing, समाज्ञप्ते when ordered, विभीषणः Vibhishana, दौत्यम् message, निवेदितवतः who had declared (the purpose of his visit), नानुमेने did not approve.

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.
तं रक्षोधिपतिं क्रुद्धं तच्च कार्यमुपस्थितम्।

विदित्वा चिन्तयामास कार्यं कार्यविधौ स्थितः।।5.52.3।।


कार्यविधौ the right course of action, स्थितः stood, तम् him, रक्षोधिपतिम् lord of demons, क्रुद्धम् angry, उपस्थितम् approached near, तत् that, कार्यं च mission also, विदित्वा having known, कार्यम् action, चिन्तयामास pondered.

Vibhishana who stood by the right course of action, having realised that the lord of demons was angry pondered over his duty.
निश्चितार्थस्ततस्साम्ना पूज्यं शत्रुजिदग्रजम्।

उवाच हितमत्यर्थं वाक्यं वाक्यविशारदः।।5.52.4।।


ततः then, निश्चितार्थः decided about action, शत्रुजित् winner of enemies, वाक्यविशारदः skilled in speech, पूज्यम् reverential, अग्रजम् to his elder brother, अत्यर्थम् profound, हितम् wholesome, वाक्यम् words, साम्ना by soothing words, उवाच addressed.

Then Vibhishana, who was skilled in speech having decided about his duty addressed his reverential elder brother, a conqueror of enemies in soothing, words in a meaningful, wholesome manner.
क्षमस्व रोषं त्यज राक्षसेन्द्र प्रसीद मद्वाक्यमिदं शृणुष्व।

वधं न कुर्वन्ति परावरज्ञा दूतस्य सन्तो वसुधाधिपेन्द्राः।।5.52.5।।


राक्षसेन्द्र O king of ogres, क्षमस्व forgive, रोषम् wrath,त्यज give up, प्रसीद be pleased, इदम् these, मद्वाक्यम् my words, शृणुष्व hear, परावरज्ञाः knower of what is exalted and what is mean (basic values of life), सन्तः good men, वसुधाधिपेन्द्राः kings of the earth, दूतस्य an envoy, वधम् killing, न कुर्वन्ति do not do.

"O king of ogres give up your wrath, forgive and calm down. Please listen to my appeal. You know the basic values of life. Virtuous rulers of the earth do not order killing of an envoy.
राजधर्मविरुद्धं च लोकवृत्तेश्च गर्हितम्।

तव चासदृशं वीर कपेरस्य प्रमापणम्।।5.52.6।।


वीर warrior, अस्य his, कपेः monkey's, प्रमापणम् killing, राजधर्मविरुद्धं च contrary to righteousness of kings, लोकवृत्तेश्च to fair diplomacy, गर्हितम् depreciable, तव च and your,
असदृशम् unbecoming act.

"Mighty king killing this Hanuman is contrary to righteousness of kings. This is deplorable diplomacy and also unbecoming of you.
धर्मज्ञश्च कृतज्ञश्च राजधर्मविशारदः।

परावरज्ञो भूतानां त्वमेव परमार्थवित्।।5.52.7।।


त्वमेव you alone, धर्मज्ञश्च knower of dharma, कृतज्ञश्च you have a sense of gratitude, राजधर्मविशारदः knower of king's dharma, भूतानाम् among beings, परावरज्ञः knower of right and wrong practices, परमार्थवित् knower of supreme truth.

"You are conversant with dharma of a king. You have a sense of gratitude. You are a knower of right and wrong of all beings. the supeme truth.
गृह्यन्ते यदि रोषेण त्वादृशोऽपि विचक्षणः।

तत श्शास्त्रविपश्चित्त्वं श्रम एव हि केवलम्।।5.52.8।।


त्वादृशः persons like you, विचक्षण: a wise one, रोषेण with unjust anger, गृह्यन्ते overpowered, ततः then, शास्त्रविपश्चित्त्वम् learning scriptures, केवलम् a mere, श्रम एव हि only fruitless labour.

"If wise persons like you are also overpowered by unjust anger, then the mastery of the scriptures will become a mere fruitless exercise.
तस्मात्प्रसीद शत्रुघ्न राक्षसेन्द्र दुरासद।

युक्तायुक्तं विनिश्चित्य दूतदण्डो विधीयताम्।।5.52.9।।


शत्रघ्न O destoyer of foes, दुरासद O unassailable, राक्षसेन्द्र king of demon, तस्मात् therefore, प्रसीद calm down, युक्तायुक्तम् that which is proper and improper, विनिश्चित्य after careful deliberation, दूतदण्डः punishment for the emissary, विधीयताम् may be impose.

"O destroyer of foes, O unassailable king of demon calm down. Only after carefully considering what is proper and improper decide on the punishment to be imposed".
विभीषणवचः श्रुत्वा रावणो राक्षसेश्वरः।

रोषेण महताविष्टो वाक्यमुत्तरमब्रवीत्।।5.52.10।।


राक्षसेश्वरः lord of ogres, रावणः Ravana, विभीषणवचः Vibhishana's words, श्रुत्वा hearing, महता higly, रोषेण with anger, आविष्टः overcome, उत्तरम् reply, वाक्यम् these words, अब्रवीत् spoken.

Ravana, the lord of demons heard Vibhishana's words and overcome with anger replied:
न पापानां वधे पापं विद्यते शत्रुसूदन।

तस्मादेनं वधिष्यामि वानरं पापचारिणम्।।5.52.11।।


शत्रुसूदन O slayer of foes, पापानाम् of sinners, वधे in killing, पापम् sin, न विद्यते not incurred, तस्मात् so, पापचारिणम् this sinner, एनम् him, वानरम् vanara, वधिष्यामि will slay.

"O slayer of foes it is not wrong to kill a sinner. I shall, therefore, kill the sinful vanara."
अधर्ममूलं बहुदोषयुक्तमनार्यजुष्टं वचनं निशम्य।

उवाच वाक्यं परमार्थतत्त्वं विभीषणो बुद्धिमतां वरिष्ठः।।5.52.12।।


बुद्धिमताम् among the wise, वरिष्ठः foremost, विभीषणः Vibhishana, अधर्ममूलम् unrigteous, बहुरोषयुक्तम् mighty angry, अनार्यजुष्टम् not acceptable to noble souls, वचनम् words, निशम्य after hearing, परमार्थतत्त्वम् supreme truth, वाक्यम् these words, उवाच spoke.

On hearing his brother's harsh words spoken in tremendous anger, which were not acceptable to noble souls, wise Vibhishana again spoke these words of supreme truth:
प्रसीद लङ्केश्वर राक्षसेन्द्र धर्मार्थयुक्तं वचनं शृणुष्व।

दूतानवध्यान् समयेषु राजन् सर्वेषु सर्वत्र वदन्ति सन्तः।।5.52.13।।


लङ्केश्वर lord of Lanka, राक्षसेन्द्र king of demons, प्रसीद calm down, धर्मार्थयुक्तम् which is the essence of dharma and artha, वचनम् words, शृणुष्व listen, राजन् O king, सर्वेषु for all, समयेषु conditions, सर्वत्र for all places, दूतान् emissaries, अवध्यान् not to be killed, सन्तः elders, वदन्ति have declared.

"O lord of Lanka O king of demons be pleased to listen to my words which are the essence of dharma and artha. The elders have declared that the emissaries should not be killed by any means.
असंशयं शत्रुरयं प्रवृद्धः कृतं ह्यनेनाप्रियमप्रमेयम्।

न दूतवध्यां प्रवदन्ति सन्तो दूतस्य दृष्टा बहवो हि दण्डाः।।5.52.14।।


अयम् this, शत्रुः enemy, प्रवृद्धः has grown, असंशयम् no doubt, अनेन by him, अप्रमेयम् incomparable, अप्रियम् unpleasant act, कृतं हि indeed has been done, सन्तः wise, दूतवध्याम् killing of an emissary, न प्रवदन्ति do not approve, दूतस्य emissary's, बहवः many, दण्डाः punishments, दृष्टाः हि indeed have recommended.

This enemy has done a lot of harm, no doubt. Indeed he has done terrible and unpleasant deeds. (Yet) the wise have recommended many alternate punishments, while prohibiting their killing.
वैरूप्यमङ्गेषु कशाभिघातो मौण्ड्यं तथा लक्षणसन्निपातः।

एतान् हि दूते प्रवदन्ति दण्डान् वधस्तु दूतस्य न नः श्रुतोऽस्ति।।5.52.15।।


अङ्गेषु in limbs, वैरूप्यम् deforming, कशाभिघातः flogging, मौण्ड्यम् shaving the head, तथा similarly, लक्षणसन्निपातः disfigurement, एतान् such of those, दूते for an emissary, दण्डान् punishments, प्रवदन्ति elders have prescribed, दूतस्य for emissary, वधस्तु killing of, श्रुतः heard, नास्ति never.

"Mutilation of limbs, flogging, shaving of the head, and deforming limbs etc. these punishments have been prescribed for an emissary. Never has killing of an emissary been heard.
कथं च धर्मार्थविनीतबुद्धिः परावरप्रत्ययनिश्चितार्थः।

भवद्विधः कोपवशे हि तिष्ठेत् कोपं नियच्छन्ति हि सत्त्ववन्तः।।5.52.16।।


धर्मार्थविनीतबुद्धिः wellversed in dharma and artha, परावरप्रत्ययनिश्चितार्थः who decides about the good and bad, भवद्विधः learned one like you, कोपवशे charged with anger, कथम् how, तिष्ठेत् (are you) swayed, सत्त्ववन्तः courageous ones, कोपम् anger, नियच्छन्ति हि indeed control.

"You are wellversed in dharma and artha. Learned men first decide what is right or wrong (before imposing punishment). How are you swayed by unjust anger? Indeed courageous persons (like you) should control anger.
न धर्मवादे न च लोकवृत्ते न शास्त्रबुद्धिग्रहणेषु चापि।

विद्येत कश्चित्तव वीर तुल्य स्त्वंह्युत्तमस्सर्वसुरासुराणाम्।।5.52.17।।


वीर O hero, धर्मवादे in the discussion on dharma, तव your, तुल्यः equal, कश्चित् any one, न विद्येत does not exist, लोकवृत्ते in the practice worldly affairs, न not, शास्त्रबुद्धिग्रहणेषु चापि in grasping the subtle truths in sastras, न no, त्वम् you, सर्वसुरासुराणाम् among all suras and asuras, उत्तमः हि indeed superior.

"Heroic Ravana there is hardly any one who is equal to you in the knowledge of dharma, in the practice of worldly affairs and in grasping subtle truths of sastras. Indeed you are supreme among suras and asuras.
शूरेण वीरेण निशाचरेन्द्र सुरासुराणामपि दुर्जयेन।

त्वया प्रगल्भाः सुरदैत्यसङ्घा जिताश्च युद्धेष्वसकृन्नरेन्द्राः।।5.52.18।।


निशाचरेन्द्रः O kings of demons, शूरेण by the brave, वीरेण by the courageous, सुरासुराणामपि among suras and asuras also, दुर्जयेन the invincible, त्वया you are, प्रगल्भा: efficient, सुरदैत्यसङ्घा hosts of suras and daityas, नरेन्द्राः kings, युद्धेषु in wars, असकृत् repeatedly, जिताश्च won by you.

"You are the king of demons. Hosts of gods and daityas efficient in wars are conquered by you again and again since you are a brave warrior invincible to gods and demons.
न चाप्यस्य कपेर्घाते कञ्चित्पश्याम्यहं गुणम्।

तेष्वयं पात्यतां दण्डो यैरयं प्रेषितः कपिः।।5.52.19।।


अस्य at this, कपेः monkey's, घाते in killing, अहम् I, किञ्चित् गुणम् even little use, न पश्यामि not see, अयम् he, दण्डः punishment, यैः by those, अयं कपिः this vanara, प्रेषितः have been sent, तेषु at them, पात्यताम् you may pronounce.

"I do not see any use in killing this monkey. Pronounce punishment on those who have sent this vanara.
साधुर्वा यदि वाऽसाधुः परैरेष समर्पितः।

ब्रुवन् परार्थं परवान्न दूतो वधमर्हति।।5.52.20।।


साधुर्वा may be soft, असाधुर्यदि वा or hard, एषः he, परैः by others, समर्पितः sent, परार्थम् by others, ब्रुवन् while speaking, परवान् he is dependent, दूतः emissary, वधम् killing, न अर्हति does not deserve.

"Whether he is soft or harsh, he has been sent by others. He is speaking on other's behalf and is dependent on them. An emissary does not deserve to be killed.
अपि चास्मिन् हते राजन्नान्यं पश्यामि खेचरम्।

इह यः पुनरागच्छेत्परं पारं महोदधेः।।5.52.21।।


राजन् O king, अपि च and even so, अस्मिन् when he, हते is killed, यः whoever, महोदधेः ocean, परं पारम् to the other side, पुनः again, इह here, आगच्छेत् who can come, अन्यम् other, खेचरम् who can come through sky and reach, न पश्यामि I do not see.

"O king If he is killed, I do not see any one who can cross this great ocean and come by air to reach this place.
तस्मान्नास्य वधे यत्नः कार्य: परपुरञ्जय।

भवान् सेन्द्रेषु देवेषु यत्नमास्थातुमर्हति।।5.52.22।।


परपुरञ्जय O hero who can conquer citadels of enemies, तस्मात् therefore, अस्य him, वधे in killing, यत्नः effort, न कार्यः should not be made, भवान् you, सेन्द्रेषु including Indra, देवेषु among gods, यत्नम् effort, आस्थातुम् to make, अर्हति you are fit.

"You who can conquer citadels of enemies should not direct your efforts to kill an envoy.You are fit to make efforts against enemies like gods including Indra.
अस्मिन्विनष्टे न हि वीरमन्यं पश्यामि यस्तौ वरराजपुत्रौ।

युद्धाय युद्धप्रियदुर्विनीतावुद्योजयेद्धीर्घपथावरुद्धौ।।5.52.23।।


युद्धप्रिय O lover of war, अस्मिन् if he, विनष्टे is slain, दुर्विनीतौ those two illmannered, दीर्घपथावरुद्धौ those two who are obstructed, तौ नरराजपुत्रौ those princes, यः who ever, युद्धाय for war, उद्योजयेत् can incite, अन्यम् another, दूतम् emissary, न पश्यामि हि I donot see indeed.

"O lover of war if Hanuman is slain I do not see any one who can incite those two illmannered sons of the king who are prevented from reaching this faroff land.
पराक्रमोत्साहमनस्विनां च सुरासुराणामपि दुर्जयेन।

त्वया मनोनन्दन नैतानां युद्धायतिर्नाशयतुं न युक्ता।।5.52.24।।


नैतानाम् for rakshasas, मनोनन्दन delighter, पराक्रमोत्साहमनस्विनां च endowed with valour,
energy, सुरासुराणामपि even if gods or demons, दुर्जयेन by the invincible one, त्वया you, युद्धायतिः chances of war, नाशयितुम् to lose, न युक्ता not proper.

"O delighter of demons even the gods and demons who are endowed with valour and energy cannot win you. You are invincible. It is not proper for you to lose chances of a good war.
हिताश्च शूराश्च समाहिताश्च कुलेषु जाताश्च महागुणेषु।

मनस्विनश्शस्त्रभृतां वरिष्ठाः कोट्यग्रतस्ते सुभृताश्च योधाः।।5.52.25।।


ते to you, हिताश्च wellwishers, शूराश्च courageous, समाहिताश्च wellestablished, महागुणेषु with good qualities, कुलेषु in such races, जाताः born, मनस्विनः intellectuals, शस्त्रभृताम् among wielders of weapons, वरिष्ठाः foremost, सुभृताश्च wellpaid warriors, योधाः warriors, कोट्यग्रतः in your presence.

"You have with you wellwishers, courageous ones, who have good qualities born in a good race, who are noble, sensible people, wielders of weapons and wellpaid warriors in crores.
तदेकदेशेन बलस्य तावत्केचित्तवाऽऽदेशकृतोऽभियान्तु

तौ राजपुत्रौ विनिगृह्य मूढौ परेषु ते भावयितुं प्रभावम्।।5.52.26।।


तत् so, तव your, आदेशकृतः those who obey you, केचित् some, बलस्य army's, एकदेशेन with one part, मूढौ two foolish ones, तौ those two, राजपुत्रौ two sons of a king, विनिगृह्य capture, परेषु among your enemies, ते your, प्रभावम् power, भावयितुम् to exhibit, अभियान्तु they may march out for war.

By your order let some strong soldiers from one contingency go and capture the two sons of the king, to exhibit your power over the enemy.
निशाचराणामधिपोऽनुजस्य विभीषणस्योत्तमवाक्यमिष्टम्।

जग्राह बुद्ध्या सुरलोकशत्रु र्महाबलो राक्षसराजमुख्यः।।5.52.27।।


निशाचराणाम् among nightroamers, सुरलोकशत्रुः enemies of gods, महाबलः mighty, राक्षसराजमुख्यः chief among the demon kings, अनुजस्य your brother's, विभीषणस्य Vibhishana's, इष्टम् dear, उत्तमवाक्यम् excellent advice, बुद्ध्या by his mind, जग्राह accepted.

The mighty chief among the demon kings, a king of the nightroamers and the enemy of gods accepted the words of advice of his younger brother Vibhishana.
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये सुन्दरकाण्डे द्विपञ्चाशस्सर्गः।।
Thus ends the fiftysecond sarga of Sundarakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.