त्रयाणां पञ्चधा योगं कर्मणां यः प्रपद्यते। सचिवैः समयं कृत्वा स सम्यग् वर्तते पथि
He who, after consulting with ministers, adopts the fivefold combination of three kinds of actions, proceeds rightly on the path.
यथागमं च यो राजा समयं च चिकीर्षति। बुध्यते सचिवैर्बुद्ध्या सुहृदश्चानुपश्यति
And the king who, according to tradition, wishes to make an agreement, understands it with the intellect of his ministers and perceives it with his friends.
धर्ममर्थं हि कामं वा सर्वान् वा रक्षसां पते। भजेत पुरुषः काले त्रीणि द्वन्द्वानि वा पुनः
A man should, at the proper time, pursue righteousness, wealth, or desire—or all three, O lord of the Rākṣasas—or again, any two of these pairs.
त्रिषु चैतेषु यच्छ्रेष्ठं श्रुत्वा तन्नावबुध्यते। राजा वा राजमात्रो वा व्यर्थं तस्य बहुश्रुतम्
If, among these three, after hearing what is best, the king or his counselor does not comprehend it, then his much learning is in vain.
उपप्रदानं सान्त्वं च भेदं काले च विक्रमम्। योगं च रक्षसां श्रेष्ठ तावुभौ च नयानयौ
Conciliation, gifts, division, timely valor, and alliance—O best of Rākṣasas—both right and wrong in these two should be known.
काले धर्मार्थकामान् यः सम्मन्त्र्य सचिवैः सह। निषेवेतात्मवाँल्लोके न स व्यसनमाप्नुयात्
He who, after consulting with wise ministers, pursues righteousness, wealth, and desire at the proper time, being self-controlled in the world, does not encounter calamity.
हितानुबन्धमालोक्य कुर्यात् कार्यमिहात्मनः। राजा सहार्थतत्त्वज्ञैः सचिवैर्बुद्धिजीविभिः
A king should, after observing the connection to benefit, act for his own sake together with ministers who know the essence of wealth and live by wisdom.
अनभिज्ञाय शास्त्रार्थान् पुरुषाः पशुबुद्धयः। प्रागल्भ्याद् वक्तुमिच्छन्ति मन्त्रिष्वभ्यन्तरीकृताः
Men of animal intellect, ignorant of the meaning of the scriptures, wish to speak out of boldness when admitted among the counselors.
अशास्त्रविदुषां तेषां कार्यं नाभिहितं वचः। अर्थशास्त्रानभिज्ञानां विपुलां श्रियमिच्छताम्
The words of those ignorant of the scriptures, who desire great prosperity but do not know the science of wealth, should not be considered in action.
अहितं च हिताकारं धार्ष्ट्याज्जल्पन्ति ये नराः। अवश्यं मन्त्रबाह्यास्ते कर्तव्याः कृत्यदूषकाः
Those men who, out of audacity, speak what is harmful in the guise of benefit, must certainly be excluded from counsel, for they corrupt undertakings.
विनाशयन्तो भर्तारं सहिताः शत्रुभिर्बुधैः। विपरीतानि कृत्यानि कारयन्तीह मन्त्रिणः
Ministers who, together with enemies, destroy their master by causing contrary actions to be performed here, are recognized by the wise.
तान् भर्ता मित्रसंकाशानमित्रान् मन्त्रनिर्णये। व्यवहारेण जानीयात् सचिवानुपसंहितान्
The master should discern, by conduct, those ministers who, resembling friends but not truly so, are not devoted to counsel.
चपलस्येह कृत्यानि सहसानुप्रधावतः। छिद्रमन्ये प्रपद्यन्ते क्रौञ्चस्य खमिव द्विजाः
When a fickle person rushes hastily into action here, others find an opening, just as birds find the sky when the heron is absent.
यो हि शत्रुमवज्ञाय आत्मानं नाभिरक्षति। अवाप्नोति हि सोऽनर्थान् स्थानाच्च व्यवरोप्यते
He who, disregarding the enemy, does not protect himself, surely meets with misfortunes and is cast down from his position.
यदुक्तमिह ते पूर्वं प्रियया मेऽनुजेन च। तदेव नो हितं वाक्यं यथेच्छसि तथा कुरु
What was said here before by you, by my beloved and by my younger brother—that alone is the counsel beneficial to us; do as you wish accordingly.
तत् तु श्रुत्वा दशग्रीवः कुम्भकर्णस्य भाषितम्। भ्रुकुटिं चैव संचक्रे क्रुद्धश्चैनमभाषत
Hearing Kumbhakarna’s words, Ravana furrowed his brow and, angered, spoke to him.
मान्यो गुरुरिवाचार्यः किं मां त्वमनुशाससे। किमेवं वाक्श्रमं कृत्वा यद् युक्तं तद् विधीयताम्
Honored as a teacher or preceptor, why do you instruct me? Why speak so laboriously? Do what is proper.
विभ्रमाच्चित्तमोहाद् वा बलवीर्याश्रयेण वा। नाभिपन्नमिदानीं यद् व्यर्था तस्य पुनः कथा
Whether from confusion, delusion of mind, or reliance on strength and valor, what was not accepted before—speaking of it again is useless.
अस्मिन् काले तु यद् युक्तं तदिदानीं विचिन्त्यताम्। गतं तु नानुशोचन्ति गतं तु गतमेव हि
Now, what is appropriate at this time should be considered; what is past is not lamented, for what is gone is truly gone.
ममापनयजं दोषं विक्रमेण समीकुरु। यदि खल्वस्ति मे स्नेहो विक्रमं वाधिगच्छसि
Remove my fault by your valor; if you truly have affection for me, show your prowess.
यदि कार्यं ममैतत्ते हृदि कार्यतमं मतम्। स सुहृद् यो विपन्नार्थं दीनमभ्युपपद्यते
If this task of mine is held by you as the highest duty in your heart, he is a true friend who supports one who is afflicted and in distress.
स बन्धुर्योऽपनीतेषु साहाय्यायोपकल्पते। तमथैवं ब्रुवाणं स वचनं धीरदारुणम्
He is a kinsman who, when others have been taken away, comes to aid; thus, as he spoke these harsh and resolute words—
रुष्टोऽयमिति विज्ञाय शनैः श्लक्ष्णमुवाच ह। अतीव हि समालक्ष्य भ्रातरं क्षुभितेन्द्रियम्
Understanding that he was angry, he spoke gently and softly, for he saw his brother greatly agitated.
कुम्भकर्णः शनैर्वाक्यं बभाषे परिसान्त्वयन्। शृणु राजन्नवहितो मम वाक्यमरिंदम
Kumbhakarna, gently consoling, spoke these words: 'Listen attentively, O king, subduer of foes, to what I say.'
अलं राक्षसराजेन्द्र संतापमुपपद्य ते। रोषं च सम्परित्यज्य स्वस्थो भवितुमर्हसि
Enough, O king of the Rakshasas, of giving in to grief; abandoning anger, you ought to compose yourself.
नैतन्मनसि कर्तव्यं मयि जीवति पार्थिव। तमहं नाशयिष्यामि यत् कृते परितप्यते
Do not let this weigh on your mind while I live, O king; I will destroy him for whose sake you are troubled.
अवश्यं तु हितं वाच्यं सर्वावस्थं मया तव। बन्धुभावादभिहितं भ्रातृस्नेहाच्च पार्थिव
Yet, at all times, I must speak what is beneficial to you, out of kinship and brotherly affection, O king.
सदृशं यच्च कालेऽस्मिन् कर्तुं स्नेहेन बन्धुना। शत्रूणां कदनं पश्य क्रियमाणं मया रणे
What is fitting for a kinsman to do with affection at such a time, that I shall do; behold the slaughter of enemies being wrought by me in battle.
अद्य पश्य महाबाहो मया समरमूर्धनि। हते रामे सह भ्रात्रा द्रवन्तीं हरिवाहिनीम्
Today, mighty-armed one, see on the battlefield, with Rama and his brother slain by me, the monkey army fleeing.
अद्य रामस्य तद् दृष्ट्वा मयाऽऽनीतं रणाच्छिरः। सुखी भव महाबाहो सीता भवतु दुःखिता
Today, seeing Rama’s head brought by me from the battle, rejoice, mighty-armed one, and let Sita be plunged in sorrow.