Sundarakanda Sarga 52: Vibhishana Advocates for the Life of the Messenger (Full Text & Meaning) 

Summary of Sarga 52

| Detail | Total Shlokas: 28 | Primary Characters: Hanumān, Rāvaṇa & Vibhīṣaṇa | Key Events: Vibhīṣaṇa-Nītiḥ (Vibhishana's policy), Dūta-Avadhya-Vādaḥ (Argument for the inviolability of messengers), Rāvaṇa-Sammatiḥ (Ravana's agreement) | Location: Ravana's Royal Court, Lanka | 

Section 1: Rāvaṇa's Rage and Vibhīṣaṇa’s Intervention (Shlokas 1–9)

tasya tadvacanaṅ śrutvā vānarasya mahātmanaḥ | ājñāpayadvadhaṅ tasya rāvaṇaḥ krōdhamūrchitaḥ || 1 

vadhē tasya samājñaptē rāvaṇēna durātmanā | nivēditavatō dautyaṅ nānumēnē vibhīṣaṇaḥ || 2

Hearing those words of the great-souled Hanuman, Ravana, overcome by rage, commanded his execution. However, when the wicked-souled Ravana commanded the execution, Vibhishana did not approve of the order, considering his status as a messenger. (1 - 2)

taṅ rakṣōdhipatiṅ kruddhaṅ tacca kāryamupasthitam | viditvā cintayāmāsa kāryaṅ kāryavidhau sthitaḥ || 3

Having understood the task at hand and the rage of the lord of the Rākṣasas (Ravana), he who was skilled in the principles of policy (Vibhishana) began to reflect on the proper course of action. (3)

niścitārthastatassāmnā pūjyaṅ śatrujidagrajam | uvāca hitamatyarthaṅ vākyaṅ vākyaviśāradaḥ || 4

Having determined the proper course of action, Vibhishana, the expert in speech, then respectfully addressed his elder brother (Ravana), the conqueror of enemies, and spoke words that were extremely beneficial. (4)

kṣamasva rōṣaṅ tyaja rākṣasēndra prasīda madvākyamidaṅ śṛṇuṣva | vadhaṅ na kurvanti parāvarajñā dūtasya santō vasudhādhipēndrāḥ || 5

"Forgive, abandon your wrath, O Lord of the Rākṣasas, be gracious and listen to this, my counsel. The supreme rulers of the earth, who know all principles, do not kill a messenger." (5)

rājadharmaviruddhaṅ ca lōk vṛttēśca garhitam | tava cāsadṛśaṅ vīra kapērasya pramāpaṇam || 6

"Furthermore, the slaying of this vānara is against the principles of statecraft, is condemned by worldly custom, and is an action unworthy of a king like you." (6)

dharmajñaśca kṛtajñaśca rājadharmaviśāradaḥ | parāvarajñō bhūtānāṅ tvamēva paramārthavit || 7 

gṛhyantē yadi rōṣēṇa tvādṛśō.pi vicakṣaṇaḥ | tata śśāstravipaścittvaṅ śrama ēva hi kēvalam || 8

"You are indeed a knower of righteousness, a master of the laws of kings, and you alone understand the ultimate truth. If even a discerning person like you is swayed by rage, then your deep scholarship in the sacred texts is merely a wasted effort." (7 - 8)

tasmātprasīda śatrughna rākṣēndra durāsada | yuktāyuktaṅ viniścitya dūtadaṇḍō vidhīyatām || 9

"Therefore, be gracious, O Destroyer of Foes. Having determined what is proper and improper, let the punishment appropriate for a messenger be carried out." (9)

Section 3: Vibhīṣaṇa’s Appeal to Reason and Strategy (Shlokas 16–28)

kathaṅ ca dharmārthavinītabuddhiḥ parāvarapratyayaniścitārthaḥ | bhavadvidhaḥ kōpavaśē hi tiṣṭhēt kōpaṅ niyacchanti hi sattvavantaḥ || 16

"How can a person like you remain subject to the power of anger? Truly, the virtuous and strong-willed restrain their wrath." (16)

na dharmavādē na ca lōkvṛttē na śāstrabuddhigrahaṇēṣu cāpi | vidyēta kaścittava vīra tulya stvaṅhyuttamassarvasurāsurāṇām || 17

"Neither in Dharma nor worldly conduct can any be found equal to you, for you are the most excellent of all gods and demons." (17)

parākramōtsāhamanasvināṁ ca surāsurāṇāmapi durjayēna | tvayā pramēyēṇa suradaityasaṅghā jitāśca yuddhēṣvasakṛnnarēndrāḥ || 18

"By you, unconquerable even by high-minded deities, the hosts of gods and demons were conquered, as well as many kings in battle." (18)

itthaṁ vidhasyāmaradaityaśatrōḥ sūrasya vīrasya tavājitasya | kurvaṁti vīrā manasāpyalīkaṁ prāṇairvimuktā na tu bhōḥ purā tē || 19

"Not even heroes ready to sacrifice their lives would ever commit an offense, even in thought, against you." (19)

na cāpyasya kapērghātē kañcitpaśyāmyahaṅ guṇam | tēṣvayaṅ pātyatāṅ daṇḍō yairayaṅ prēṣitaḥ kapiḥ || 20

"Furthermore, I see no merit in killing this vānara. Instead, let the punishment be inflicted upon those who sent him here." (20)

sādhurvā yadi vā.sādhuḥ parairēṣa samarpitaḥ | bruvan parārthaṅ paravānna dūtō vadhamarhati || 21

"Whether virtuous or not, he has been dispatched by others; a messenger who speaks for the sake of others does not deserve to be killed." (21)

api cāsmin hatē rājannānyaṅ paśyāmi khēcaram | iha yaḥ punarāgacchētparaṅ pāraṅ mahōdadhēḥ || 22 

tasmānnāsya vadhē yatnaḥ kārya: parapurañjaya | bhavān sēndrēṣu dēvēṣu yatnamāsthātumarhati || 23

"Furthermore, if he is slain, I see no other being who could cross the great ocean and return here. You should focus your effort against the gods led by Indra instead." (22 - 23)

asminvinaṣṭē na hi vīramanyaṅ paśyāmi yastau var rājaputrau | yuddhāya yuddhapriya durvinītāv udyōjayēddhīrghapathāvaruddhau || 24

"If this one is slain, I see no other hero who could provoke those two princes (Rama and Lakshmana) to engage in war." (24)

parākramōtsāhamanasvināṅ ca surāsurāṇāmapi durjayēna | tvayā manōnandana naitānāṅ yuddhāyatirnāśayatuṅ na yuktā || 25

"It is not proper to destroy the prospect of war against these enemies by this action." (25)

hitāśca śūrāśca samāhitāśca kulēṣu jātāśca mahāguṇēṣu | manasvinaśśastrabhṛtāṅ variṣṭhaḥ kōṭyagratastē subhṛtāśca yōdhāḥ || 26

"You have loyal, brave warriors numbering over ten million. Therefore, let a fraction of that army march forth and seize those two foolish princes to demonstrate your prowess." (26 - 27)

tadēkadēśēna balasya tāvat kēcittavā৷৷dēśakṛtō.bhiyāntu | tau rājaputrau vinigṛhya mūḍhau parēṣu tē bhāvayituṅ prabhāvam || 27 

niśācarāṇāmadhipō.nujasya vibhīṣaṇasyōttavākyamiṣṭam | jagrāha buddhyā suralōkaśatruḥ mahābalō rākṣasarājamukhyaḥ || 28

The powerful king of the Rākṣasas intellectually accepted the excellent advice of his younger brother, Vibhishana. (28)

ityārśe śrīmadramāyaṇe vālmīkīye ādikāvye suṃdarakaṃde dvipaṁcāśassargaḥ