यदुक्तं कपिराजेन रावणावरजं प्रति। वाक्यं हेतुमदत्यर्थं भवद्भिरपि च श्रुतम्
The words spoken by the monkey king concerning Rāvaṇa’s younger brother, full of reason and meaning, have also been heard by you all.
सुहृदामर्थकृच्छ्रेषु युक्तं बुद्धिमता सदा। समर्थेनोपसंदेष्टुं शाश्वतीं भूतिमिच्छता
It is always fitting for a wise person, desiring lasting prosperity, to consult capable friends in times of difficulty.
इत्येवं परिपृष्टास्ते स्वं स्वं मतमतन्द्रिताः। सोपचारं तदा राममूचुः प्रियचिकीर्षवः
Thus questioned, each one of them, attentive and wishing to please, respectfully spoke their own opinion to Rāma.
अज्ञातं नास्ति ते किंचित् त्रिषु लोकेषु राघव। आत्मानं पूजयन् राम पृच्छस्यस्मान् सुहृत्तया
There is nothing unknown to you in the three worlds, O Rāghava; yet, honoring us as friends, you ask us out of friendship.
त्वं हि सत्यव्रतः शूरो धार्मिको दृढविक्रमः। परीक्ष्यकारी स्मृतिमान् निसृष्टात्मा सुहृत्सु च
For you are one who keeps his vows, courageous, righteous, firm in valor, careful in action, mindful, self-controlled, and friendly to companions.
तस्मादेकैकशस्तावद् ब्रुवन्तु सचिवास्तव। हेतुतो मतिसम्पन्नाः समर्थाश्च पुनः पुनः
Therefore, let your counselors, wise and capable, each speak their view in turn, giving reasons again and again.
इत्युक्ते राघवायाथ मतिमानङ्गदोऽग्रतः। विभीषणपरीक्षार्थमुवाच वचनं हरिः
When this was said to Rāghava, the thoughtful Aṅgada, standing in front, spoke these words to examine Vibhīṣaṇa.
शत्रोः सकाशात् सम्प्राप्तः सर्वथा तर्क्य एव हि। विश्वासनीयः सहसा न कर्तव्यो विभीषणः
Since he has come from the enemy’s side, Vibhīṣaṇa must certainly be regarded with suspicion; he should not be trusted at once.
छादयित्वाऽऽत्मभावं हि चरन्ति शठबुद्धयः। प्रहरन्ति च रन्ध्रेषु सोऽनर्थः सुमहान् भवेत्
For those with deceitful minds conceal their true nature and act covertly; they strike at weak points, and such harm can be very great.
अर्थानर्थौ विनिश्चित्य व्यवसायं भजेत ह। गुणतः संग्रहं कुर्याद् दोषतस्तु विसर्जयेत्
Having discerned benefit and harm, one should make a decision; one should accept on the basis of merit and reject on account of fault.
यदि दोषो महांस्तस्मिंस्त्यज्यतामविशङ्कितम्। गुणान् वापि बहून् ज्ञात्वा संग्रहः क्रियतां नृप
If there is a great fault in him, let him be abandoned without hesitation; or, knowing his many virtues, let him be accepted, O king.
शरभस्त्वथ निश्चित्य सार्थं वचनमब्रवीत्। क्षिप्रमस्मिन् नरव्याघ्र चारः प्रतिविधीयताम्
Then Śarabha, having considered, spoke these meaningful words: 'Let a spy be quickly set upon him, O tiger among men.'
प्रणिधाय हि चारेण यथावत् सूक्ष्मबुद्धिना। परीक्ष्य च ततः कार्यो यथान्यायं परिग्रहः
For by carefully investigating with a clever spy, and after proper examination, acceptance should be made according to justice.
जाम्बवांस्त्वथ सम्प्रेक्ष्य शास्त्रबुद्ध्या विचक्षणः। वाक्यं विज्ञापयामास गुणवद् दोषवर्जितम्
Then Jāmbavān, discerning and wise in the scriptures, after careful consideration, spoke words full of virtue and free from fault.
बद्धवैराच्च पापाच्च राक्षसेन्द्राद् विभीषणः। अदेशकाले सम्प्राप्तः सर्वथा शंक्यतामयम्
Because of his enmity and the wickedness of the king of the Rākṣasas, Vibhīṣaṇa has come at the wrong place and time; therefore, he must be suspected in every way.
ततो मैन्दस्तु सम्प्रेक्ष्य नयापनयकोविदः। वाक्यं वचनसम्पन्नो बभाषे हेतुमत्तरम्
Then Mainda, skilled in policy and counter-policy, after considering, spoke a most reasonable and well-worded statement.
अनुजो नाम तस्यैष रावणस्य विभीषणः। पृच्छ्यतां मधुरेणायं शनैर्नरपतीश्वर
This Vibhīṣaṇa is said to be Rāvaṇa’s younger brother; let him be questioned gently and slowly, O lord of men.
भावमस्य तु विज्ञाय तत्त्वतस्तं करिष्यसि। यदि दुष्टो न दुष्टो वा बुद्धिपूर्वं नरर्षभ
But first, discern his true intent—whether he is wicked or not, after careful consideration, O best of men, and then act accordingly.
अथ संस्कारसम्पन्नो हनूमान् सचिवोत्तमः। उवाच वचनं श्लक्ष्णमर्थवन्मधुरं लघु
Then Hanuman, the foremost among ministers, endowed with refinement, spoke gentle, meaningful, sweet, and concise words.
न भवन्तं मतिश्रेष्ठं समर्थं वदतां वरम्। अतिशाययितुं शक्तो बृहस्पतिरपि ब्रुवन्
Even Brihaspati, speaking, could not surpass you, O best of the wise and most capable among speakers.
न वादान्नापि संघर्षान्नाधिक्यान्न च कामतः। वक्ष्यामि वचनं राजन् यथार्थं राम गौरवात्
O King, I will speak the truth about Rama out of respect, not out of argument, conflict, superiority, or desire.
अर्थानर्थनिमित्तं हि यदुक्तं सचिवैस्तव। तत्र दोषं प्रपश्यामि क्रिया नह्युपपद्यते
Regarding what your ministers have said for the sake of advantage or to avoid harm, I see a flaw there—the proposed action does not seem appropriate.
ऋते नियोगात् सामर्थ्यमवबोद्धुं न शक्यते। सहसा विनियोगोऽपि दोषवान् प्रतिभाति मे
Without a proper directive, it is not possible to discern capability; and a hasty assignment, to me, appears faulty.
चारप्रणिहितं युक्तं यदुक्तं सचिवैस्तव। अर्थस्यासम्भवात् तत्र कारणं नोपपद्यते
What your ministers have said about deploying spies is reasonable, but since the objective cannot be achieved, the rationale does not hold.
अदेशकाले सम्प्राप्त इत्ययं यद् विभीषणः। विवक्षा तत्र मेऽस्तीयं तां निबोध यथामति
As for Vibhishana arriving at an improper place and time, I have a certain thought about this—listen to it as I understand.
एष देशश्च कालश्च भवतीह यथा तथा। पुरुषात् पुरुषं प्राप्य तथा दोषगुणावपि
This place and time are as they are; from person to person, both faults and virtues are found accordingly.
दौरात्म्यं रावणे दृष्ट्वा विक्रमं च तथा त्वयि। युक्तमागमनं ह्यत्र सदृशं तस्य बुद्धितः
Seeing Ravana's wickedness and your own valor, it is fitting and reasonable for him to have come here, considering his judgment.
अज्ञातरूपैः पुरुषैः स राजन् पृच्छ्यतामिति। यदुक्तमत्र मे प्रेक्षा काचिदस्ति समीक्षिता
As for the suggestion that he be questioned by unknown men, O King, I have considered this carefully and have a certain view.
पृच्छ्यमानो विशङ्केत सहसा बुद्धिमान् वचः। तत्र मित्रं प्रदुष्येत मिथ्या पृष्टं सुखागतम्
If questioned suddenly, a wise person might become suspicious and a friend, wrongly questioned, could be alienated even if he has come in good faith.
अशक्यं सहसा राजन् भावो बोद्धुं परस्य वै। अन्तरेण स्वरैर्भिन्नैर्नैपुण्यं पश्यतां भृशम्
O King, it is truly impossible to quickly discern another's intent without keenly observing subtle differences in their speech.