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.
न त्वस्य ब्रुवतो जातु लक्ष्यते दुष्टभावता। प्रसन्नं वदनं चापि तस्मान्मे नास्ति संशयः
But as he speaks, no sign of malice is ever seen; his face is clear and open, so I have no doubt.
अशङ्कितमतिः स्वस्थो न शठः परिसर्पति। न चास्य दुष्टवागस्ति तस्मान्मे नास्ति संशयः
His mind is untroubled and unsuspecting; he does not move deceitfully, nor does he speak wickedly—therefore, I have no doubt.
देशकालोपपन्नं च कार्यं कार्यविदां वर। सफलं कुरुते क्षिप्रं प्रयोगेणाभिसंहितम्
O best among those who know what should be done, an action undertaken at the right place and time quickly bears fruit when properly executed.
उद्योगं तव सम्प्रेक्ष्य मिथ्यावृत्तं च रावणम्। वालिनं च हतं श्रुत्वा सुग्रीवं चाभिषेचितम्
Seeing your preparations, Ravana's false conduct, hearing of Vali's death, and Sugriva's coronation—
राज्यं प्रार्थयमानस्तु बुद्धिपूर्वमिहागतः। एतावत् तु पुरस्कृत्य युज्यते तस्य संग्रहः
He has come here thoughtfully, seeking a kingdom; thus, considering all this, it is fitting to accept him.
यथाशक्ति मयोक्तं तु राक्षसस्यार्जवं प्रति। प्रमाणं त्वं हि शेषस्य श्रुत्वा बुद्धिमतां वर
I have spoken according to my ability regarding the sincerity of the rākṣasa; you, having heard, are the authority for what remains, O best among the wise.
thumb|एकोनविंशः सर्गः श्रूयताम्|center श्रीमद्वाल्मीकियरामायणे युद्धकाण्डे अष्टादशः सर्गः ॥६-
The eighteenth sarga in the Yuddha Kāṇḍa of the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa is now to be heard.
अथ रामः प्रसन्नात्मा श्रुत्वा वायुसुतस्य ह। प्रत्यभाषत दुर्धर्षः श्रुतवानात्मनि स्थितम्
Then Rāma, his mind serene, having heard the words of the Wind-god’s son, replied resolutely, steadfast in himself and learned.
ममापि च विवक्षास्ति काचित् प्रति विभीषणम्। श्रोतुमिच्छामि तत् सर्वं भवद्भिः श्रेयसि स्थितैः
I too have something to say regarding Vibhīṣaṇa; I wish to hear all of it from you who are established in what is best.
मित्रभावेन सम्प्राप्तं न त्यजेयं कथंचन। दोषो यद्यपि तस्य स्यात् सतामेतदगर्हितम्
One who has come in the guise of a friend should never be rejected; even if he has some fault, this is not censured among the virtuous.