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.
सुग्रीवस्त्वथ तद्वाक्यमाभाष्य च विमृश्य च। ततः शुभतरं वाक्यमुवाच हरिपुङ्गवः
Then Sugrīva, having spoken and considered those words, uttered an even more auspicious speech, the foremost among the monkeys.
स दुष्टो वाप्यदुष्टो वा किमेष रजनीचरः। ईदृशं व्यसनं प्राप्तं भ्रातरं यः परित्यजेत्
Whether this night-wanderer is wicked or not, who would abandon a brother who has encountered such misfortune?
को नाम स भवेत् तस्य यमेष न परित्यजेत्। वानराधिपतेर्वाक्यं श्रुत्वा सर्वानुदीक्ष्य तु
Who indeed would not abandon him? Having heard the words of the monkey king, all considered them.
ईषदुत्स्मयमानस्तु लक्ष्मणं पुण्यलक्षणम्। इति होवाच काकुत्स्थो वाक्यं सत्यपराक्रमः
Then Kākutstha, of true valor, slightly smiling, spoke these words to Lakṣmaṇa, whose marks were auspicious.
अनधीत्य च शास्त्राणि वृद्धाननुपसेव्य च। न शक्यमीदृशं वक्तुं यदुवाच हरीश्वरः
Without studying the scriptures and without serving the elders, it is not possible to speak as the lord of the monkeys has spoken.
अस्ति सूक्ष्मतरं किंचिद् यथात्र प्रतिभाति मा। प्रत्यक्षं लौकिकं चापि वर्तते सर्वराजसु
There is something subtler here, as it appears to me; and there is also direct worldly experience among all kings.
अमित्रास्तत्कुलीनाश्च प्रातिदेश्याश्च कीर्तिताः। व्यसनेषु प्रहर्तारस्तस्मादयमिहागतः
Enemies, those of noble lineage, and neighbors are mentioned; in adversity, they strike—therefore he has come here.
अपापास्तत्कुलीनाश्च मानयन्ति स्वकान् हितान्। एष प्रायो नरेन्द्राणां शङ्कनीयस्तु शोभनः
Those who are blameless and of noble lineage honor their own well-wishers; this is generally the way of kings, though one should be cautious even with the good.
यस्तु दोषस्त्वया प्रोक्तो ह्यादानेऽरिबलस्य च। तत्र ते कीर्तयिष्यामि यथाशास्त्रमिदं शृणु
As for the fault you mentioned regarding accepting the enemy’s strength, I will explain to you according to the treatises; listen to this.
न वयं तत्कुलीनाश्च राज्यकाङ्क्षी च राक्षसः। पण्डिता हि भविष्यन्ति तस्माद् ग्राह्यो विभीषणः
We are not of his lineage, nor does the rākṣasa seek the kingdom; the wise will discern—therefore Vibhīṣaṇa should be accepted.