The Debate Over Vibhishana's Refuge

Shloka 1 (yuddha.17.1)

इत्युक्त्वा परुषं वाक्यं रावणं रावणानुजः। आजगाम मुहूर्तेन यत्र रामः सलक्ष्मणः ॥ 17.1 ॥

ityuktvā paruṣaṃ vākyaṃ rāvaṇaṃ rāvaṇānujaḥ| ājagāma muhūrtena yatra rāmaḥ salakṣmaṇaḥ || 17.1 ||

Having spoken these harsh words to Ravana, Ravana's younger brother arrived within moments at the place where Rama was, together with Lakshmana.

Shloka 2 (yuddha.17.2)

तं मेरुशिखराकारं दीप्तामिव शतह्रदाम्। गगनस्थं महीस्थास्ते ददृशुर्वानराधिपाः ॥ 17.2 ॥

taṃ meruśikharākāraṃ dīptāmiva śatahradām| gaganasthaṃ mahīsthāste dadṛśurvānarādhipāḥ || 17.2 ||

The monkey chieftains, standing on the ground, saw him in the sky, shaped like the peak of Mount Meru, blazing like a streak of lightning.

Shloka 3 (yuddha.17.3)

ते चाप्यनुचरास्तस्य चत्वारो भीमविक्रमाः। तेऽपि वर्मायुधोपेता भूषणोत्तमभूषिताः ॥ 17.3 ॥

te cāpyanucarāstasya catvāro bhīmavikramāḥ| te'pi varmāyudhopetā bhūṣaṇottamabhūṣitāḥ || 17.3 ||

With him too were his four companions of fearsome prowess; they also were armored and armed, adorned with the finest ornaments.

Shloka 4 (yuddha.17.4)

स च मेघाचलप्रख्यो वज्रायुधसमप्रभः। वरायुधधरो वीरो दिव्याभरणभूषितः ॥ 17.4 ॥

sa ca meghācalaprakhyo vajrāyudhasamaprabhaḥ| varāyudhadharo vīro divyābharaṇabhūṣitaḥ || 17.4 ||

Vibhishana himself resembled a mountain of cloud, radiant as the wielder of the thunderbolt - a hero bearing excellent weapons, adorned with divine ornaments.

Shloka 5 (yuddha.17.5)

तमात्मपञ्चमं दृष्ट्वा सुग्रीवो वानराधिपः। वानरैः सह दुर्धर्षश्चिन्तयामास बुद्धिमान् ॥ 17.5 ॥

tamātmapañcamaṃ dṛṣṭvā sugrīvo vānarādhipaḥ| vānaraiḥ saha durdharṣaścintayāmāsa buddhimān || 17.5 ||

Seeing him, one of a party of five, the wise Sugriva, king of the monkeys and himself hard to overcome, fell to thinking, along with his monkeys.

Shloka 6 (yuddha.17.6)

चिन्तयित्वा मुहूर्तं तु वानरांस्तानुवाच ह। हनुमत्प्रमुखान् सर्वानिदं वचनमुत्तमम् ॥ 17.6 ॥

cintayitvā muhūrtaṃ tu vānarāṃstānuvāca ha| hanumatpramukhān sarvānidaṃ vacanamuttamam || 17.6 ||

Having reflected for a moment, he spoke these excellent words to all those monkeys, Hanuman foremost among them.

Shloka 7 (yuddha.17.7)

एष सर्वायुधोपेतश्चतुर्भिः सह राक्षसैः। राक्षसोभ्येति पश्यध्वमस्मान् हन्तुं न संशयः ॥ 17.7 ॥

eṣa sarvāyudhopetaścaturbhiḥ saha rākṣasaiḥ| rākṣasobhyeti paśyadhvamasmān hantuṃ na saṃśayaḥ || 17.7 ||

“See - this demon, armed with every weapon, approaches together with four rakshasas; there is no doubt he comes to kill us.”

Shloka 8 (yuddha.17.8)

सुग्रीवस्य वचः श्रुत्वा सर्वे ते वानरोत्तमाः। सालानुद्यम्य शैलांश्च इदं वचनमब्रुवन् ॥ 17.8 ॥

sugrīvasya vacaḥ śrutvā sarve te vānarottamāḥ| sālānudyamya śailāṃśca idaṃ vacanamabruvan || 17.8 ||

Hearing Sugriva's words, all those foremost monkeys, lifting up sala trees and boulders, spoke these words.

Shloka 9 (yuddha.17.9)

शीघ्रं व्यादिश नो राजन् वधायैषां दुरात्मनाम्। निपतन्ति हता यावद् धरण्यामल्पचेतनाः ॥ 17.9 ॥

śīghraṃ vyādiśa no rājan vadhāyaiṣāṃ durātmanām| nipatanti hatā yāvad dharaṇyāmalpacetanāḥ || 17.9 ||

“Command us swiftly, O king, to slay these evil-minded ones, before these witless creatures fall dead upon the earth from our blows.”

Shloka 10 (yuddha.17.10)

तेषां सम्भाषमाणानामन्योन्यं स विभीषणः। उत्तरं तीरमासाद्य खस्थ एव व्यतिष्ठत ॥ 17.10 ॥

teṣāṃ sambhāṣamāṇānāmanyonyaṃ sa vibhīṣaṇaḥ| uttaraṃ tīramāsādya khastha eva vyatiṣṭhata || 17.10 ||

While they talked thus among themselves, Vibhishana, having reached a point above the northern shore, remained standing there, still in the sky.

Shloka 11 (yuddha.17.11)

स उवाच महाप्राज्ञः स्वरेण महता महान्। सुग्रीवं तांश्च सम्प्रेक्ष्य खस्थ एव विभीषणः ॥ 17.11 ॥

sa uvāca mahāprājñaḥ svareṇa mahatā mahān| sugrīvaṃ tāṃśca samprekṣya khastha eva vibhīṣaṇaḥ || 17.11 ||

That great and wise Vibhishana, beholding Sugriva and his monkeys while still standing in the sky, spoke out in a great voice.

Shloka 12 (yuddha.17.12)

रावणो नाम दुर्वृत्तो राक्षसो राक्षसेश्वरः। तस्याहमनुजो भ्राता विभीषण इति श्रुतः ॥ 17.12 ॥

rāvaṇo nāma durvṛtto rākṣaso rākṣaseśvaraḥ| tasyāhamanujo bhrātā vibhīṣaṇa iti śrutaḥ || 17.12 ||

“There is a rakshasa of evil conduct named Ravana, the lord of the rakshasas. I am his younger brother, known as Vibhishana.”

Shloka 13 (yuddha.17.13)

तेन सीता जनस्थानाद् हृता हत्वा जटायुषम्। रुद्धा च विवशा दीना राक्षसीभिः सुरक्षिता ॥ 17.13 ॥

tena sītā janasthānād hṛtā hatvā jaṭāyuṣam| ruddhā ca vivaśā dīnā rākṣasībhiḥ surakṣitā || 17.13 ||

“It was he who, having slain Jatayu, carried off Sita from Janasthana; and she, helpless and grief-stricken, is held captive, closely guarded by rakshasi women.”

Shloka 14 (yuddha.17.14)

तमहं हेतुभिर्वाक्यैर्विविधैश्च न्यदर्शयम्। साधु निर्यात्यतां सीता रामायेति पुनः पुनः ॥ 17.14 ॥

tamahaṃ hetubhirvākyairvividhaiśca nyadarśayam| sādhu niryātyatāṃ sītā rāmāyeti punaḥ punaḥ || 17.14 ||

“I showed him, again and again, with reasoned arguments of every kind, that Sita ought rightly to be restored to Rama.”

Shloka 15 (yuddha.17.15)

स च न प्रतिजग्राह रावणः कालचोदितः। उच्यमानं हितं वाक्यं विपरीत इवौषधम् ॥ 17.15 ॥

sa ca na pratijagrāha rāvaṇaḥ kālacoditaḥ| ucyamānaṃ hitaṃ vākyaṃ viparīta ivauṣadham || 17.15 ||

“But Ravana, driven on by fate, would not accept my wholesome counsel, like a man too perverse to take his own medicine.”

Shloka 16 (yuddha.17.16)

सोऽहं परुषितस्तेन दासवच्चावमानितः। त्यक्त्वा पुत्रांश्च दारांश्च राघवं शरणं गतः ॥ 17.16 ॥

so'haṃ paruṣitastena dāsavaccāvamānitaḥ| tyaktvā putrāṃśca dārāṃśca rāghavaṃ śaraṇaṃ gataḥ || 17.16 ||

“Reviled and humiliated by him as though I were a slave, I have left behind my sons and my wife and come to take refuge with Raghava.”

Shloka 17 (yuddha.17.17)

निवेदयत मां क्षिप्रं राघवाय महात्मने। सर्वलोकशरण्याय विभीषणमुपस्थितम् ॥ 17.17 ॥

nivedayata māṃ kṣipraṃ rāghavāya mahātmane| sarvalokaśaraṇyāya vibhīṣaṇamupasthitam || 17.17 ||

“Announce to the great-souled Raghava, the refuge of all the worlds, without delay, that Vibhishana has arrived.”

Shloka 18 (yuddha.17.18)

एतत्तु वचनं श्रुत्वा सुग्रीवो लघुविक्रमः। लक्ष्मणस्याग्रतो रामं संरब्धमिदमब्रवीत् ॥ 17.18 ॥

etattu vacanaṃ śrutvā sugrīvo laghuvikramaḥ| lakṣmaṇasyāgrato rāmaṃ saṃrabdhamidamabravīt || 17.18 ||

Hearing these words, Sugriva of swift prowess spoke agitatedly to Rama, in the presence of Lakshmana.

Shloka 19 (yuddha.17.19)

प्रविष्टः शत्रुसैन्यं हि प्राप्तः शत्रुरतर्कितः। निहन्यादन्तरं लब्ध्वा उलूको वायसानिव ॥ 17.19 ॥

praviṣṭaḥ śatrusainyaṃ hi prāptaḥ śatruratarkitaḥ| nihanyādantaraṃ labdhvā ulūko vāyasāniva || 17.19 ||

“An enemy who has come unexpectedly from within the enemy's own army may strike the moment he finds an opening - as an owl kills crows.”

Shloka 20 (yuddha.17.20)

मन्त्रे व्यूहे नये चारे युक्तो भवितुमर्हसि। वानराणां च भद्रं ते परेषां च परंतप ॥ 17.20 ॥

mantre vyūhe naye cāre yukto bhavitumarhasi| vānarāṇāṃ ca bhadraṃ te pareṣāṃ ca paraṃtapa || 17.20 ||

“O scorcher of foes, you ought to be alert in counsel, in the arraying of forces, in policy, and in espionage - both regarding your own monkeys and the enemy. May good come to you.”

Shloka 21 (yuddha.17.21)

अन्तर्धानगता ह्येते राक्षसाः कामरूपिणः। शूराश्च निकृतिज्ञाश्च तेषां जातु न विश्वसेत् ॥ 17.21 ॥

antardhānagatā hyete rākṣasāḥ kāmarūpiṇaḥ| śūrāśca nikṛtijñāśca teṣāṃ jātu na viśvaset || 17.21 ||

“These rakshasas can vanish at will and take any form they please; they are valiant and skilled in deceit - one should never trust them.”

Shloka 22 (yuddha.17.22)

प्रणिधी राक्षसेन्द्रस्य रावणस्य भवेदयम्। अनुप्रविश्य सोऽस्मासु भेदं कुर्यान्न संशयः ॥ 17.22 ॥

praṇidhī rākṣasendrasya rāvaṇasya bhavedayam| anupraviśya so'smāsu bhedaṃ kuryānna saṃśayaḥ || 17.22 ||

“This one may well be a spy of Ravana, lord of the rakshasas; entering among us, he may without doubt sow discord.”

Shloka 23 (yuddha.17.23)

अथ वा स्वयमेवैष छिद्रमासाद्य बुद्धिमान्। अनुप्रविश्य विश्वस्ते कदाचित् प्रहरेदपि ॥ 17.23 ॥

atha vā svayamevaiṣa chidramāsādya buddhimān| anupraviśya viśvaste kadācit praharedapi || 17.23 ||

“Or this clever one, having found our weak point on his own, may enter among us and strike, once he has won our trust.”

Shloka 24 (yuddha.17.24)

मित्राटविबलं चैव मौलभृत्यबलं तथा। सर्वमेतद् बलं ग्राह्यं वर्जयित्वा द्विषद्बलम् ॥ 17.24 ॥

mitrāṭavibalaṃ caiva maulabhṛtyabalaṃ tathā| sarvametad balaṃ grāhyaṃ varjayitvā dviṣadbalam || 17.24 ||

“A force of allies, or forest-dwellers like ourselves, or hereditary troops, or hired soldiers - any such force may be accepted, but never one belonging to the enemy.”

Shloka 25 (yuddha.17.25)

प्रकृत्या राक्षसो ह्येष भ्रातामित्रस्य वै प्रभो। आगतश्च रिपुः साक्षात् कथमस्मिंश्च विश्वसेत् ॥ 17.25 ॥

prakṛtyā rākṣaso hyeṣa bhrātāmitrasya vai prabho| āgataśca ripuḥ sākṣāt kathamasmiṃśca viśvaset || 17.25 ||

“O lord, this one is by nature a rakshasa, and moreover the brother of our enemy; how can we trust one who has come here straight from the foe himself?”

Shloka 26 (yuddha.17.26)

रावणस्यानुजो भ्राता विभीषण इति श्रुतः। चतुर्भिः सह रक्षोभिर्भवन्तं शरणं गतः ॥ 17.26 ॥

rāvaṇasyānujo bhrātā vibhīṣaṇa iti śrutaḥ| caturbhiḥ saha rakṣobhirbhavantaṃ śaraṇaṃ gataḥ || 17.26 ||

“Known as Vibhishana, the younger brother of Ravana, he has come to you for refuge, along with four rakshasas.”

Shloka 27 (yuddha.17.27)

रावणेन प्रणीतं हि तमवेहि विभीषणम्। तस्याहं निग्रहं मन्ये क्षमं क्षमवतां वर ॥ 17.27 ॥

rāvaṇena praṇītaṃ hi tamavehi vibhīṣaṇam| tasyāhaṃ nigrahaṃ manye kṣamaṃ kṣamavatāṃ vara || 17.27 ||

“Know that this Vibhishana has been sent by Ravana himself; O best among the patient, I think his seizure is fitting.”

Shloka 28 (yuddha.17.28)

राक्षसो जिह्मया बुद्ध्या संदिष्टोऽयमिहागतः। प्रहर्तुं मायया छन्नो विश्वस्ते त्वयि चानघ ॥ 17.28 ॥

rākṣaso jihmayā buddhyā saṃdiṣṭo'yamihāgataḥ| prahartuṃ māyayā channo viśvaste tvayi cānagha || 17.28 ||

“O sinless one, this rakshasa has come here sent with crooked intent, cloaked by illusion, to strike once you have placed your trust in him.”

Shloka 29 (yuddha.17.29)

वध्यतामेष तीव्रेण दण्डेन सचिवैः सह। रावणस्य नृशंसस्य भ्राता ह्येष विभीषणः ॥ 17.29 ॥

vadhyatāmeṣa tīvreṇa daṇḍena sacivaiḥ saha| rāvaṇasya nṛśaṃsasya bhrātā hyeṣa vibhīṣaṇaḥ || 17.29 ||

“Let him be put to death with severe punishment, along with his ministers - for this Vibhishana is indeed the brother of the cruel Ravana.”

Shloka 30 (yuddha.17.30)

एवमुक्त्वा तु तं रामं संरब्धो वाहिनीपतिः। वाक्यज्ञो वाक्यकुशलं ततो मौनमुपागमत् ॥ 17.30 ॥

evamuktvā tu taṃ rāmaṃ saṃrabdho vāhinīpatiḥ| vākyajño vākyakuśalaṃ tato maunamupāgamat || 17.30 ||

Having spoken thus, the army's commander, himself skilled in speech, fell silent before Rama, that eloquent one, though still agitated.

Shloka 31 (yuddha.17.31)

सुग्रीवस्य तु तद् वाक्यं श्रुत्वा रामो महाबलः। समीपस्थानुवाचेदं हनुमत्प्रमुखान् कपीन् ॥ 17.31 ॥

sugrīvasya tu tad vākyaṃ śrutvā rāmo mahābalaḥ| samīpasthānuvācedaṃ hanumatpramukhān kapīn || 17.31 ||

Hearing these words of Sugriva, the mighty Rama spoke thus to the monkeys standing near him, Hanuman foremost among them.

Shloka 32 (yuddha.17.32)

यदुक्तं कपिराजेन रावणावरजं प्रति। वाक्यं हेतुमदत्यर्थं भवद्भिरपि च श्रुतम् ॥ 17.32 ॥

yaduktaṃ kapirājena rāvaṇāvarajaṃ prati| vākyaṃ hetumadatyarthaṃ bhavadbhirapi ca śrutam || 17.32 ||

“You too have heard the highly reasoned words that the monkey king spoke concerning Ravana's younger brother.”

Shloka 33 (yuddha.17.33)

सुहृदामर्थकृच्छ्रेषु युक्तं बुद्धिमता सदा। समर्थेनोपसंदेष्टुं शाश्वतीं भूतिमिच्छता ॥ 17.33 ॥

suhṛdāmarthakṛcchreṣu yuktaṃ buddhimatā sadā| samarthenopasaṃdeṣṭuṃ śāśvatīṃ bhūtimicchatā || 17.33 ||

“It is fitting that a wise and capable man, who ever desires the lasting welfare of his friends, should always offer them counsel in times of difficulty.”

Shloka 34 (yuddha.17.34)

इत्येवं परिपृष्टास्ते स्वं स्वं मतमतन्द्रिताः। सोपचारं तदा राममूचुः प्रियचिकीर्षवः ॥ 17.34 ॥

ityevaṃ paripṛṣṭāste svaṃ svaṃ matamatandritāḥ| sopacāraṃ tadā rāmamūcuḥ priyacikīrṣavaḥ || 17.34 ||

Thus questioned, they, alert and eager to do him good, spoke their own opinions to Rama each in turn, with due courtesy.

Shloka 35 (yuddha.17.35)

अज्ञातं नास्ति ते किंचित् त्रिषु लोकेषु राघव। आत्मानं पूजयन् राम पृच्छस्यस्मान् सुहृत्तया ॥ 17.35 ॥

ajñātaṃ nāsti te kiṃcit triṣu lokeṣu rāghava| ātmānaṃ pūjayan rāma pṛcchasyasmān suhṛttayā || 17.35 ||

“O Raghava, nothing in the three worlds is unknown to you; O Rama, you honor us by asking our opinion out of pure friendship.”

Shloka 36 (yuddha.17.36)

त्वं हि सत्यव्रतः शूरो धार्मिको दृढविक्रमः। परीक्ष्यकारी स्मृतिमान् निसृष्टात्मा सुहृत्सु च ॥ 17.36 ॥

tvaṃ hi satyavrataḥ śūro dhārmiko dṛḍhavikramaḥ| parīkṣyakārī smṛtimān nisṛṣṭātmā suhṛtsu ca || 17.36 ||

“You are true to your vows, valiant, righteous, of firm prowess, one who acts only after due examination, of retentive memory, and utterly devoted in heart to your friends.”

Shloka 37 (yuddha.17.37)

तस्मादेकैकशस्तावद् ब्रुवन्तु सचिवास्तव। हेतुतो मतिसम्पन्नाः समर्थाश्च पुनः पुनः ॥ 17.37 ॥

tasmādekaikaśastāvad bruvantu sacivāstava| hetuto matisampannāḥ samarthāśca punaḥ punaḥ || 17.37 ||

“Therefore let your ministers, endowed with judgement and capable as they are, speak one by one, giving their reasons again and again.”

Shloka 38 (yuddha.17.38)

इत्युक्ते राघवायाथ मतिमानङ्गदोऽग्रतः। विभीषणपरीक्षार्थमुवाच वचनं हरिः ॥ 17.38 ॥

ityukte rāghavāyātha matimānaṅgado'grataḥ| vibhīṣaṇaparīkṣārthamuvāca vacanaṃ hariḥ || 17.38 ||

When this was said to Raghava, the wise Angada spoke first, offering words meant to test Vibhishana.

Shloka 39 (yuddha.17.39)

शत्रोः सकाशात् सम्प्राप्तः सर्वथा तर्क्य एव हि। विश्वासनीयः सहसा न कर्तव्यो विभीषणः ॥ 17.39 ॥

śatroḥ sakāśāt samprāptaḥ sarvathā tarkya eva hi| viśvāsanīyaḥ sahasā na kartavyo vibhīṣaṇaḥ || 17.39 ||

“One who comes from the presence of an enemy is by all means to be doubted; Vibhishana should not hastily be made an object of trust.”

Shloka 40 (yuddha.17.40)

छादयित्वाऽऽत्मभावं हि चरन्ति शठबुद्धयः। प्रहरन्ति च रन्ध्रेषु सोऽनर्थः सुमहान् भवेत् ॥ 17.40 ॥

chādayitvā''tmabhāvaṃ hi caranti śaṭhabuddhayaḥ| praharanti ca randhreṣu so'narthaḥ sumahān bhavet || 17.40 ||

“Those of deceitful mind move about concealing their true nature, and strike at the weak point - and from that a very great calamity may follow.”

Shloka 41 (yuddha.17.41)

अर्थानर्थौ विनिश्चित्य व्यवसायं भजेत ह। गुणतः संग्रहं कुर्याद् दोषतस्तु विसर्जयेत् ॥ 17.41 ॥

arthānarthau viniścitya vyavasāyaṃ bhajeta ha| guṇataḥ saṃgrahaṃ kuryād doṣatastu visarjayet || 17.41 ||

“One should first weigh gain against loss and then act; if there be merit, one should accept, and if there be fault, one should reject.”

Shloka 42 (yuddha.17.42)

यदि दोषो महांस्तस्मिंस्त्यज्यतामविशङ्कितम्। गुणान् वापि बहून् ज्ञात्वा संग्रहः क्रियतां नृप ॥ 17.42 ॥

yadi doṣo mahāṃstasmiṃstyajyatāmaviśaṅkitam| guṇān vāpi bahūn jñātvā saṃgrahaḥ kriyatāṃ nṛpa || 17.42 ||

“O king, if there be great fault in him, let him be cast off without hesitation; but if many virtues are found in him, let him be accepted.”

Shloka 43 (yuddha.17.43)

शरभस्त्वथ निश्चित्य सार्थं वचनमब्रवीत्। क्षिप्रमस्मिन् नरव्याघ्र चारः प्रतिविधीयताम् ॥ 17.43 ॥

śarabhastvatha niścitya sārthaṃ vacanamabravīt| kṣipramasmin naravyāghra cāraḥ pratividhīyatām || 17.43 ||

Then Sharabha, having reflected, spoke a meaningful counsel: “O tiger among men, let a spy be dispatched swiftly to watch him.”

Shloka 44 (yuddha.17.44)

प्रणिधाय हि चारेण यथावत् सूक्ष्मबुद्धिना। परीक्ष्य च ततः कार्यो यथान्यायं परिग्रहः ॥ 17.44 ॥

praṇidhāya hi cāreṇa yathāvat sūkṣmabuddhinā| parīkṣya ca tataḥ kāryo yathānyāyaṃ parigrahaḥ || 17.44 ||

“Having stationed a keen-witted spy and duly examined him through that spy, only then should he be accepted, as is proper.”

Shloka 45 (yuddha.17.45)

जाम्बवांस्त्वथ सम्प्रेक्ष्य शास्त्रबुद्ध्या विचक्षणः। वाक्यं विज्ञापयामास गुणवद् दोषवर्जितम् ॥ 17.45 ॥

jāmbavāṃstvatha samprekṣya śāstrabuddhyā vicakṣaṇaḥ| vākyaṃ vijñāpayāmāsa guṇavad doṣavarjitam || 17.45 ||

Then the discerning Jambavan, considering the matter with the wisdom of scripture, put forward this counsel, sound and free of fault.

Shloka 46 (yuddha.17.46)

बद्धवैराच्च पापाच्च राक्षसेन्द्राद् विभीषणः। अदेशकाले सम्प्राप्तः सर्वथा शंक्यतामयम् ॥ 17.46 ॥

baddhavairācca pāpācca rākṣasendrād vibhīṣaṇaḥ| adeśakāle samprāptaḥ sarvathā śaṃkyatāmayam || 17.46 ||

“Vibhishana comes from a sinful lord of rakshasas with whom you have contracted enmity, and at an ill-suited place and time - he is by every means to be suspected.”

Shloka 47 (yuddha.17.47)

ततो मैन्दस्तु सम्प्रेक्ष्य नयापनयकोविदः। वाक्यं वचनसम्पन्नो बभाषे हेतुमत्तरम् ॥ 17.47 ॥

tato maindastu samprekṣya nayāpanayakovidaḥ| vākyaṃ vacanasampanno babhāṣe hetumattaram || 17.47 ||

Then Mainda, skilled in judging right conduct from wrong, and gifted in speech, having considered the matter, spoke words of yet stronger reasoning.

Shloka 48 (yuddha.17.48)

अनुजो नाम तस्यैष रावणस्य विभीषणः। पृच्छ्यतां मधुरेणायं शनैर्नरपतीश्वर ॥ 17.48 ॥

anujo nāma tasyaiṣa rāvaṇasya vibhīṣaṇaḥ| pṛcchyatāṃ madhureṇāyaṃ śanairnarapatīśvara || 17.48 ||

“O lord of kings, this Vibhishana is indeed the younger brother of Ravana; let him be questioned gently, with gradual and sweet words.”

Shloka 49 (yuddha.17.49)

भावमस्य तु विज्ञाय तत्त्वतस्तं करिष्यसि। यदि दुष्टो न दुष्टो वा बुद्धिपूर्वं नरर्षभ ॥ 17.49 ॥

bhāvamasya tu vijñāya tattvatastaṃ kariṣyasi| yadi duṣṭo na duṣṭo vā buddhipūrvaṃ nararṣabha || 17.49 ||

“O bull among men, having truly discerned his intent - whether he is dishonest or not - you may then decide his fate with sound judgement.”

Shloka 50 (yuddha.17.50)

अथ संस्कारसम्पन्नो हनूमान् सचिवोत्तमः। उवाच वचनं श्लक्ष्णमर्थवन्मधुरं लघु ॥ 17.50 ॥

atha saṃskārasampanno hanūmān sacivottamaḥ| uvāca vacanaṃ ślakṣṇamarthavanmadhuraṃ laghu || 17.50 ||

Then Hanuman, the best of counselors, possessed of fine breeding, spoke words that were smooth, meaningful, sweet, and brief.

Shloka 51 (yuddha.17.51)

न भवन्तं मतिश्रेष्ठं समर्थं वदतां वरम्। अतिशाययितुं शक्तो बृहस्पतिरपि ब्रुवन् ॥ 17.51 ॥

na bhavantaṃ matiśreṣṭhaṃ samarthaṃ vadatāṃ varam| atiśāyayituṃ śakto bṛhaspatirapi bruvan || 17.51 ||

“Not even Brihaspati himself, however he might speak, could surpass you, best among orators, foremost in wisdom and power.”

Shloka 52 (yuddha.17.52)

न वादान्नापि संघर्षान्नाधिक्यान्न च कामतः। वक्ष्यामि वचनं राजन् यथार्थं राम गौरवात् ॥ 17.52 ॥

na vādānnāpi saṃgharṣānnādhikyānna ca kāmataḥ| vakṣyāmi vacanaṃ rājan yathārthaṃ rāma gauravāt || 17.52 ||

“O king, O Rama, I speak not out of a wish to argue, nor to contend with others, nor for self-importance, nor from personal desire - but truthfully, out of respect for the weight of this matter.”

Shloka 53 (yuddha.17.53)

अर्थानर्थनिमित्तं हि यदुक्तं सचिवैस्तव। तत्र दोषं प्रपश्यामि क्रिया नह्युपपद्यते ॥ 17.53 ॥

arthānarthanimittaṃ hi yaduktaṃ sacivaistava| tatra doṣaṃ prapaśyāmi kriyā nahyupapadyate || 17.53 ||

“In what your counselors have said concerning the gains and losses of this matter, I see a flaw - such a course of action is simply not workable.”

Shloka 54 (yuddha.17.54)

ऋते नियोगात् सामर्थ्यमवबोद्धुं न शक्यते। सहसा विनियोगोऽपि दोषवान् प्रतिभाति मे ॥ 17.54 ॥

ṛte niyogāt sāmarthyamavaboddhuṃ na śakyate| sahasā viniyogo'pi doṣavān pratibhāti me || 17.54 ||

“Without actually entrusting him with a task, one cannot come to know his capability - yet hastily entrusting him with one also seems to me a fault.”

Shloka 55 (yuddha.17.55)

चारप्रणिहितं युक्तं यदुक्तं सचिवैस्तव। अर्थस्यासम्भवात् तत्र कारणं नोपपद्यते ॥ 17.55 ॥

cārapraṇihitaṃ yuktaṃ yaduktaṃ sacivaistava| arthasyāsambhavāt tatra kāraṇaṃ nopapadyate || 17.55 ||

“As for your counselors' proposal to send a spy to watch him, that reasoning too does not hold, since the thing itself is not really feasible here.”

Shloka 56 (yuddha.17.56)

अदेशकाले सम्प्राप्त इत्ययं यद् विभीषणः। विवक्षा तत्र मेऽस्तीयं तां निबोध यथामति ॥ 17.56 ॥

adeśakāle samprāpta ityayaṃ yad vibhīṣaṇaḥ| vivakṣā tatra me'stīyaṃ tāṃ nibodha yathāmati || 17.56 ||

“As for the claim that Vibhishana has come at an unsuitable place and time, I too have something to say on that - hear it, as best as I can express it.”

Shloka 57 (yuddha.17.57)

एष देशश्च कालश्च भवतीह यथा तथा। पुरुषात् पुरुषं प्राप्य तथा दोषगुणावपि ॥ 17.57 ॥

eṣa deśaśca kālaśca bhavatīha yathā tathā| puruṣāt puruṣaṃ prāpya tathā doṣaguṇāvapi || 17.57 ||

“This place and this time are exactly as they should be, for it is precisely by comparing one man against another that their faults and virtues become clear.”

Shloka 58 (yuddha.17.58)

दौरात्म्यं रावणे दृष्ट्वा विक्रमं च तथा त्वयि। युक्तमागमनं ह्यत्र सदृशं तस्य बुद्धितः ॥ 17.58 ॥

daurātmyaṃ rāvaṇe dṛṣṭvā vikramaṃ ca tathā tvayi| yuktamāgamanaṃ hyatra sadṛśaṃ tasya buddhitaḥ || 17.58 ||

“Having seen the wickedness in Ravana, and likewise the valor in you, his coming here is entirely fitting, and worthy of his own good judgement.”

Shloka 59 (yuddha.17.59)

अज्ञातरूपैः पुरुषैः स राजन् पृच्छ्यतामिति। यदुक्तमत्र मे प्रेक्षा काचिदस्ति समीक्षिता ॥ 17.59 ॥

ajñātarūpaiḥ puruṣaiḥ sa rājan pṛcchyatāmiti| yaduktamatra me prekṣā kācidasti samīkṣitā || 17.59 ||

“O king, as for the suggestion that he be questioned by men of unknown identity, on that too I have arrived at a certain considered view.”

Shloka 60 (yuddha.17.60)

पृच्छ्यमानो विशङ्केत सहसा बुद्धिमान् वचः। तत्र मित्रं प्रदुष्येत मिथ्या पृष्टं सुखागतम् ॥ 17.60 ॥

pṛcchyamāno viśaṅketa sahasā buddhimān vacaḥ| tatra mitraṃ praduṣyeta mithyā pṛṣṭaṃ sukhāgatam || 17.60 ||

“A wise man, questioned suddenly, will grow suspicious of what is asked; and thus a friend who came to us in good faith may turn hostile, wrongly interrogated.”

Shloka 61 (yuddha.17.61)

अशक्यं सहसा राजन् भावो बोद्धुं परस्य वै। अन्तरेण स्वरैर्भिन्नैर्नैपुण्यं पश्यतां भृशम् ॥ 17.61 ॥

aśakyaṃ sahasā rājan bhāvo boddhuṃ parasya vai| antareṇa svarairbhinnairnaipuṇyaṃ paśyatāṃ bhṛśam || 17.61 ||

“O king, it is truly impossible to grasp another's inner mind so hastily, without the deep skill of one able to distinguish shades of tone.”

Shloka 62 (yuddha.17.62)

न त्वस्य ब्रुवतो जातु लक्ष्यते दुष्टभावता। प्रसन्नं वदनं चापि तस्मान्मे नास्ति संशयः ॥ 17.62 ॥

na tvasya bruvato jātu lakṣyate duṣṭabhāvatā| prasannaṃ vadanaṃ cāpi tasmānme nāsti saṃśayaḥ || 17.62 ||

“Yet in his speech no trace of evil intent is to be seen at all, and his countenance too is serene - therefore I have no doubt about him.”

Shloka 63 (yuddha.17.63)

अशङ्कितमतिः स्वस्थो न शठः परिसर्पति। न चास्य दुष्टवागस्ति तस्मान्मे नास्ति संशयः ॥ 17.63 ॥

aśaṅkitamatiḥ svastho na śaṭhaḥ parisarpati| na cāsya duṣṭavāgasti tasmānme nāsti saṃśayaḥ || 17.63 ||

“A deceitful man does not move about so unguarded and at ease in mind; nor is there anything evil in his speech - hence, again, I have no doubt.”

Shloka 64 (yuddha.17.64)

आकारश्छाद्यमानोऽपि न शक्यो विनिगूहितुम्। बलाद्धि विवृणोत्येव भावमन्तर्गतं नृणाम् ॥ 17.64 ॥

ākāraśchādyamāno'pi na śakyo vinigūhitum| balāddhi vivṛṇotyeva bhāvamantargataṃ nṛṇām || 17.64 ||

“Even when a man's outward bearing is deliberately masked, it cannot truly be concealed - it forcibly reveals what lies within the heart.”

Shloka 65 (yuddha.17.65)

देशकालोपपन्नं च कार्यं कार्यविदां वर। सफलं कुरुते क्षिप्रं प्रयोगेणाभिसंहितम् ॥ 17.65 ॥

deśakālopapannaṃ ca kāryaṃ kāryavidāṃ vara| saphalaṃ kurute kṣipraṃ prayogeṇābhisaṃhitam || 17.65 ||

“O foremost among those who know how to act, an undertaking suited to its proper place and time, joined with prompt application, quickly bears fruit.”

Shloka 66 (yuddha.17.66)

उद्योगं तव सम्प्रेक्ष्य मिथ्यावृत्तं च रावणम्। वालिनं च हतं श्रुत्वा सुग्रीवं चाभिषेचितम् ॥ 17.66 ॥

udyogaṃ tava samprekṣya mithyāvṛttaṃ ca rāvaṇam| vālinaṃ ca hataṃ śrutvā sugrīvaṃ cābhiṣecitam || 17.66 ||

“Having witnessed your resolve, and Ravana's crooked conduct, and having heard of Vali's death and of Sugriva's coronation -”

Shloka 67 (yuddha.17.67)

राज्यं प्रार्थयमानस्तु बुद्धिपूर्वमिहागतः। एतावत् तु पुरस्कृत्य युज्यते तस्य संग्रहः ॥ 17.67 ॥

rājyaṃ prārthayamānastu buddhipūrvamihāgataḥ| etāvat tu puraskṛtya yujyate tasya saṃgrahaḥ || 17.67 ||

“- desiring the kingdom for himself, he has come here deliberately, with full understanding. On this ground alone, it is fitting that he be accepted.”

Shloka 68 (yuddha.17.68)

यथाशक्ति मयोक्तं तु राक्षसस्यार्जवं प्रति। प्रमाणं त्वं हि शेषस्य श्रुत्वा बुद्धिमतां वर ॥ 17.68 ॥

yathāśakti mayoktaṃ tu rākṣasasyārjavaṃ prati| pramāṇaṃ tvaṃ hi śeṣasya śrutvā buddhimatāṃ vara || 17.68 ||

“I have spoken as best I can concerning this rakshasa's sincerity; O best among the wise, having heard me, you yourself are the authority for what remains.”