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

tasya tadvacanaṅ śrutvā vānarasya mahātmanaḥ.

ājñāpayadvadhaṅ tasya rāvaṇaḥ krōdhamūrchitaḥ৷৷5.52.1৷৷


mahātmanaḥ of the great, tasya vānarasya of vanara's, tat vacanam the speech, śrutvā on hearing, rāvaṇaḥ Ravana, krōdhamūrchitaḥ overwhelmed with anger, tasya his, vadham slaying, ājñāpayat ordered.

Hearing the great vanara's speech, Ravana overwhelmed with anger ordered the execution of Hanuman.
vadhē tasya samājñaptē rāvaṇēna durātmanā.

nivēditavatō dautyaṅ nānumēnē vibhīṣaṇaḥ৷৷5.52.2৷৷


durātmanā by the wicked self, rāvaṇēna by Ravana, tasya his, vadhē killing, samājñaptē when ordered, vibhīṣaṇaḥ Vibhishana, dautyam message, nivēditavataḥ who had declared (the purpose of his visit), nānumēnē 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.
taṅ rakṣōdhipatiṅ kruddhaṅ tacca kāryamupasthitam.

viditvā cintayāmāsa kāryaṅ kāryavidhau sthitaḥ৷৷5.52.3৷৷


kāryavidhau the right course of action, sthitaḥ stood, tam him, rakṣōdhipatim lord of demons, kruddham angry, upasthitam approached near, tat that, kāryaṅ ca mission also, viditvā having known, kāryam action, cintayāmāsa pondered.

Vibhishana who stood by the right course of action, having realised that the lord of demons was angry pondered over his duty.
niścitārthastatassāmnā pūjyaṅ śatrujidagrajam.

uvāca hitamatyarthaṅ vākyaṅ vākyaviśāradaḥ৷৷5.52.4৷৷


tataḥ then, niścitārthaḥ decided about action, śatrujit winner of enemies, vākyaviśāradaḥ skilled in speech, pūjyam reverential, agrajam to his elder brother, atyartham profound, hitam wholesome, vākyam words, sāmnā by soothing words, uvāca 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.
kṣamasva rōṣaṅ tyaja rākṣasēndra prasīda madvākyamidaṅ śṛṇuṣva.

vadhaṅ na kurvanti parāvarajñā dūtasya santō vasudhādhipēndrāḥ৷৷5.52.5৷৷


rākṣasēndra O king of ogres, kṣamasva forgive, rōṣam wrath,tyaja give up, prasīda be pleased, idam these, madvākyam my words, śṛṇuṣva hear, parāvarajñāḥ knower of what is exalted and what is mean (basic values of life), santaḥ good men, vasudhādhipēndrāḥ kings of the earth, dūtasya an envoy, vadham killing, na kurvanti 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.
rājadharmaviruddhaṅ ca lōkavṛttēśca garhitam.

tava cāsadṛśaṅ vīra kapērasya pramāpaṇam৷৷5.52.6৷৷


vīra warrior, asya his, kapēḥ monkey's, pramāpaṇam killing, rājadharmaviruddhaṅ ca contrary to righteousness of kings, lōkavṛttēśca to fair diplomacy, garhitam depreciable, tava ca and your,
asadṛśam unbecoming act.

"Mighty king! killing this Hanuman is contrary to righteousness of kings. This is deplorable diplomacy and also unbecoming of you.
dharmajñaśca kṛtajñaśca rājadharmaviśāradaḥ.

parāvarajñō bhūtānāṅ tvamēva paramārthavit৷৷5.52.7৷৷


tvamēva you alone, dharmajñaśca knower of dharma, kṛtajñaśca you have a sense of gratitude, rājadharmaviśāradaḥ knower of king's dharma, bhūtānām among beings, parāvarajñaḥ knower of right and wrong practices, paramārthavit 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.
gṛhyantē yadi rōṣēṇa tvādṛśō.pi vicakṣaṇaḥ.

tata śśāstravipaścittvaṅ śrama ēva hi kēvalam৷৷5.52.8৷৷


tvādṛśaḥ persons like you, vicakṣaṇa: a wise one, rōṣēṇa with unjust anger, gṛhyantē overpowered, tataḥ then, śāstravipaścittvam learning scriptures, kēvalam a mere, śrama ēva hi 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.
tasmātprasīda śatrughna rākṣasēndra durāsada.

yuktāyuktaṅ viniścitya dūtadaṇḍō vidhīyatām৷৷5.52.9৷৷


śatraghna O destoyer of foes, durāsada O unassailable, rākṣasēndra king of demon, tasmāt therefore, prasīda calm down, yuktāyuktam that which is proper and improper, viniścitya after careful deliberation, dūtadaṇḍaḥ punishment for the emissary, vidhīyatām 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".
vibhīṣaṇavacaḥ śrutvā rāvaṇō rākṣasēśvaraḥ.

rōṣēṇa mahatāviṣṭō vākyamuttaramabravīt৷৷5.52.10৷৷


rākṣasēśvaraḥ lord of ogres, rāvaṇaḥ Ravana, vibhīṣaṇavacaḥ Vibhishana's words, śrutvā hearing, mahatā higly, rōṣēṇa with anger, āviṣṭaḥ overcome, uttaram reply, vākyam these words, abravīt spoken.

Ravana, the lord of demons heard Vibhishana's words and overcome with anger replied:
na pāpānāṅ vadhē pāpaṅ vidyatē śatrusūdana.

tasmādēnaṅ vadhiṣyāmi vānaraṅ pāpacāriṇam৷৷5.52.11৷৷


śatrusūdana O slayer of foes, pāpānām of sinners, vadhē in killing, pāpam sin, na vidyatē not incurred, tasmāt so, pāpacāriṇam this sinner, ēnam him, vānaram vanara, vadhiṣyāmi will slay.

"O slayer of foes! it is not wrong to kill a sinner. I shall, therefore, kill the sinful vanara."
adharmamūlaṅ bahudōṣayuktamanāryajuṣṭaṅ vacanaṅ niśamya.

uvāca vākyaṅ paramārthatattvaṅ vibhīṣaṇō buddhimatāṅ variṣṭhaḥ৷৷5.52.12৷৷


buddhimatām among the wise, variṣṭhaḥ foremost, vibhīṣaṇaḥ Vibhishana, adharmamūlam unrigteous, bahurōṣayuktam mighty angry, anāryajuṣṭam not acceptable to noble souls, vacanam words, niśamya after hearing, paramārthatattvam supreme truth, vākyam these words, uvāca 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:
prasīda laṅkēśvara rākṣasēndra dharmārthayuktaṅ vacanaṅ śṛṇuṣva.

dūtānavadhyān samayēṣu rājan sarvēṣu sarvatra vadanti santaḥ৷৷5.52.13৷৷


laṅkēśvara lord of Lanka, rākṣasēndra king of demons, prasīda calm down, dharmārthayuktam which is the essence of dharma and artha, vacanam words, śṛṇuṣva listen, rājan O king, sarvēṣu for all, samayēṣu conditions, sarvatra for all places, dūtān emissaries, avadhyān not to be killed, santaḥ elders, vadanti 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.
asaṅśayaṅ śatrurayaṅ pravṛddhaḥ kṛtaṅ hyanēnāpriyamapramēyam.

na dūtavadhyāṅ pravadanti santō dūtasya dṛṣṭā bahavō hi daṇḍāḥ৷৷5.52.14৷৷


ayam this, śatruḥ enemy, pravṛddhaḥ has grown, asaṅśayam no doubt, anēna by him, apramēyam incomparable, apriyam unpleasant act, kṛtaṅ hi indeed has been done, santaḥ wise, dūtavadhyām killing of an emissary, na pravadanti do not approve, dūtasya emissary's, bahavaḥ many, daṇḍāḥ punishments, dṛṣṭāḥ hi 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.
vairūpyamaṅgēṣu kaśābhighātō mauṇḍyaṅ tathā lakṣaṇasannipātaḥ.

ētān hi dūtē pravadanti daṇḍān vadhastu dūtasya na naḥ śrutō.sti৷৷5.52.15৷৷


aṅgēṣu in limbs, vairūpyam deforming, kaśābhighātaḥ flogging, mauṇḍyam shaving the head, tathā similarly, lakṣaṇasannipātaḥ disfigurement, ētān such of those, dūtē for an emissary, daṇḍān punishments, pravadanti elders have prescribed, dūtasya for emissary, vadhastu killing of, śrutaḥ heard, nāsti 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.
kathaṅ ca dharmārthavinītabuddhiḥ parāvarapratyayaniścitārthaḥ.

bhavadvidhaḥ kōpavaśē hi tiṣṭhēt kōpaṅ niyacchanti hi sattvavantaḥ৷৷5.52.16৷৷


dharmārthavinītabuddhiḥ well-versed in dharma and artha, parāvarapratyayaniścitārthaḥ who decides about the good and bad, bhavadvidhaḥ learned one like you, kōpavaśē charged with anger, katham how, tiṣṭhēt (are you) swayed, sattvavantaḥ courageous ones, kōpam anger, niyacchanti hi indeed control.

"You are well-versed 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.
na dharmavādē na ca lōkavṛttē na śāstrabuddhigrahaṇēṣu cāpi.

vidyēta kaścittava vīra tulya stvaṅhyuttamassarvasurāsurāṇām৷৷5.52.17৷৷


vīra O hero, dharmavādē in the discussion on dharma, tava your, tulyaḥ equal, kaścit any one, na vidyēta does not exist, lōkavṛttē in the practice worldly affairs, na not, śāstrabuddhigrahaṇēṣu cāpi in grasping the subtle truths in sastras, na no, tvam you, sarvasurāsurāṇām among all suras and asuras, uttamaḥ hi 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.
śūrēṇa vīrēṇa niśācarēndra surāsurāṇāmapi durjayēna.

tvayā pragalbhāḥ suradaityasaṅghā jitāśca yuddhēṣvasakṛnnarēndrāḥ৷৷5.52.18৷৷


niśācarēndraḥ O kings of demons, śūrēṇa by the brave, vīrēṇa by the courageous, surāsurāṇāmapi among suras and asuras also, durjayēna the invincible, tvayā you are, pragalbhā: efficient, suradaityasaṅghā hosts of suras and daityas, narēndrāḥ kings, yuddhēṣu in wars, asakṛt repeatedly, jitāśca 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.
na cāpyasya kapērghātē kañcitpaśyāmyahaṅ guṇam.

tēṣvayaṅ pātyatāṅ daṇḍō yairayaṅ prēṣitaḥ kapiḥ৷৷5.52.19৷৷


asya at this, kapēḥ monkey's, ghātē in killing, aham I, kiñcit guṇam even little use, na paśyāmi not see, ayam he, daṇḍaḥ punishment, yaiḥ by those, ayaṅ kapiḥ this vanara, prēṣitaḥ have been sent, tēṣu at them, pātyatām you may pronounce.

"I do not see any use in killing this monkey. Pronounce punishment on those who have sent this vanara.
sādhurvā yadi vā.sādhuḥ parairēṣa samarpitaḥ.

bruvan parārthaṅ paravānna dūtō vadhamarhati৷৷5.52.20৷৷


sādhurvā may be soft, asādhuryadi vā or hard, ēṣaḥ he, paraiḥ by others, samarpitaḥ sent, parārtham by others, bruvan while speaking, paravān he is dependent, dūtaḥ emissary, vadham killing, na arhati 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.
api cāsmin hatē rājannānyaṅ paśyāmi khēcaram.

iha yaḥ punarāgacchētparaṅ pāraṅ mahōdadhēḥ৷৷5.52.21৷৷


rājan O king, api ca and even so, asmin when he, hatē is killed, yaḥ whoever, mahōdadhēḥ ocean, paraṅ pāram to the other side, punaḥ again, iha here, āgacchēt who can come, anyam other, khēcaram who can come through sky and reach, na paśyāmi 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.
tasmānnāsya vadhē yatnaḥ kārya: parapurañjaya.

bhavān sēndrēṣu dēvēṣu yatnamāsthātumarhati৷৷5.52.22৷৷


parapurañjaya O hero who can conquer citadels of enemies, tasmāt therefore, asya him, vadhē in killing, yatnaḥ effort, na kāryaḥ should not be made, bhavān you, sēndrēṣu including Indra, dēvēṣu among gods, yatnam effort, āsthātum to make, arhati 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.
asminvinaṣṭē na hi vīramanyaṅ paśyāmi yastau vararājaputrau.

yuddhāya yuddhapriyadurvinītāvudyōjayēddhīrghapathāvaruddhau৷৷5.52.23৷৷


yuddhapriya O lover of war, asmin if he, vinaṣṭē is slain, durvinītau those two ill-mannered, dīrghapathāvaruddhau those two who are obstructed, tau nararājaputrau those princes, yaḥ who ever, yuddhāya for war, udyōjayēt can incite, anyam another, dūtam emissary, na paśyāmi hi I donot see indeed.

"O lover of war! if Hanuman is slain I do not see any one who can incite those two ill-mannered sons of the king who are prevented from reaching this far-off land.
parākramōtsāhamanasvināṅ ca surāsurāṇāmapi durjayēna.

tvayā manōnandana naitānāṅ yuddhāyatirnāśayatuṅ na yuktā৷৷5.52.24৷৷


naitānām for rakshasas, manōnandana delighter, parākramōtsāhamanasvināṅ ca endowed with valour,
energy, surāsurāṇāmapi even if gods or demons, durjayēna by the invincible one, tvayā you, yuddhāyatiḥ chances of war, nāśayitum to lose, na yuktā 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.
hitāśca śūrāśca samāhitāśca kulēṣu jātāśca mahāguṇēṣu.

manasvinaśśastrabhṛtāṅ variṣṭhāḥ kōṭyagratastē subhṛtāśca yōdhāḥ৷৷5.52.25৷৷


tē to you, hitāśca well-wishers, śūrāśca courageous, samāhitāśca well-established, mahāguṇēṣu with good qualities, kulēṣu in such races, jātāḥ born, manasvinaḥ intellectuals, śastrabhṛtām among wielders of weapons, variṣṭhāḥ foremost, subhṛtāśca well-paid warriors, yōdhāḥ warriors, kōṭyagrataḥ in your presence.

"You have with you well-wishers, courageous ones, who have good qualities born in a good race, who are noble, sensible people, wielders of weapons and well-paid warriors in crores.
tadēkadēśēna balasya tāvatkēcittavā৷৷dēśakṛtō.bhiyāntu

tau rājaputrau vinigṛhya mūḍhau parēṣu tē bhāvayituṅ prabhāvam৷৷5.52.26৷৷


tat so, tava your, ādēśakṛtaḥ those who obey you, kēcit some, balasya army's, ēkadēśēna with one part, mūḍhau two foolish ones, tau those two, rājaputrau two sons of a king, vinigṛhya capture, parēṣu among your enemies, tē your, prabhāvam power, bhāvayitum to exhibit, abhiyāntu 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.
niśācarāṇāmadhipō.nujasya vibhīṣaṇasyōttamavākyamiṣṭam.

jagrāha buddhyā suralōkaśatru rmahābalō rākṣasarājamukhyaḥ৷৷5.52.27৷৷


niśācarāṇām among night-roamers, suralōkaśatruḥ enemies of gods, mahābalaḥ mighty, rākṣasarājamukhyaḥ chief among the demon kings, anujasya your brother's, vibhīṣaṇasya Vibhishana's, iṣṭam dear, uttamavākyam excellent advice, buddhyā by his mind, jagrāha accepted.

The mighty chief among the demon kings, a king of the night-roamers and the enemy of gods accepted the words of advice of his younger brother Vibhishana.
ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē sundarakāṇḍē dvipañcāśassargaḥ৷৷
Thus ends the fiftysecond sarga of Sundarakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.