“Om Sri Lakshmi Narashimhan Nahama”

Valmiki – Sundara Kanda – Chapter 52

Vibhishana Intercedes on Behalf of

Summary

Hearing the harsh words of Hanuma, orders him to be killed. , however, advises Ravana to desist from the dastardly act, pointing out that the killing of an envoy is forbidden according to religious scriptures.

Chapter [Sarga] 52 in Detail

tasya tat vacanam shrutvaa vaanarasya mahaatmanah |

aajnaapayat vadham tasya raavanah krodha muurchitah || 5-52-1

Hearing those words of the high souled Hanuma, Ravana duly excited with anger, ordered for the killing of Hanuma.

vadhe tasya samaajnapte raavanena duraatmanaa |

niveditavato dautyam na anumene vibhiishanah || 5-52-2

While it was ordered by the evil-natured Ravana for the killing of Hanuma, Vibhishana did not agree to the killing of Hanuma, who was entrusted with the functions of a messenger.

tam raksho adhipatim kruddham tac ca kaaryam upasthitam |

viditvaa cintayaamaasa kaaryam kaarya vidhau sthitah || 5-52-3

Seeing Ravana getting enraged and looking to that affair (of killing of an envoy) that has arisen, Vibhishana who was firm in accompanying any object, reflected upon an appropriate action to be done.

nishcita arthah tatah saamnaa aapuujya shatrujit agrajam |

uvaaca hitam atyartham vaakyam vaakya vishaaradah || 5-52-4

Then, deciding about a right action, Vibhishana, who was skilled in communication and a conqueror of enemies, spoke softly the following very meaningful and useful words to Ravana, his venerable brother.

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Valmiki Ramayana – Sundara Kanda – Chapter 52 ksamasva rosam tyaja raaksasendra |

prasiida madvaakyamidam shrinusva |

vadham na kurvanti paraavarajjnaa |

duutasya santo vasudhaadhipendraah || 5-52-5

"O king of demons! Forgive and give up your anger. Be gracious and hear my words. Virtuous kings of excellence, knowing the distant and the near, do not cause killing of an envoy."

raajan viruddham ca loka vritteh ca garhitam |

tava ca asadrisham viira kapeh asya pramaapanam || 5-52-6

"O hero! Killing of this monkey is against a royal virtue and any universal custom condemns it. Hence, it is improper for you also to do it."

dharmajjnshcha kritajjnshcha raajadharmavishaaradah |

paraavarajjno bhuutaanaam tvameva paramaarthavit || 5-52-7

"You are indeed the knower of what is right. You are a person of gratitude. You are well- versed in royal virtues. You know both the distant and the near in beings. You know the highest truth."

grihyante yadi rosena tvaadrisho.api vipashcitah |

tatah shaastravipashchittvam shrama eva hi kevalam || 5-52-8

"If even learned persons like you are seized by anger, then the knowledge of scriptures is indeed just a labor in vain."

tasmaatprasiida raaksasendra duraasada |

tatah shaastravipashchittvam shrama eva hi kevalm || 5-52-9

"O king of demons! O annihilator of enemies, dangerous to be approached! Therefore, be graceful. After ascertaining about right and wrong, let appropriate punishment be ordered to the envoy."

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Valmiki Ramayana – Sundara Kanda – Chapter 52 vibhiisanavachah shrutvaa raavano raaksaseshvarah |

rosena mahataavisto vaakyamuttaramabraviit || 5-52-10

Hearing the words of Vibhishana, Ravana the lord of demons was greatly enraged and replied in the following words:

na paapaanaam vadhe paapam vidyate shatrusuudana |

tasmaadenam vadhisyaami vaanaram paapachaarinam || 5-52-11

"O Vibhishana, the annihilator of enemies! There is no sin, even if the sinners are killed. So, I shall kill this monkey, who performed sins."

adharmamuulam bahudosayukta |

manaaryajustam vachanam nishamya |

uvaacha vaakyam paramaarthatattvam |

vibhiisano buddhimataam varisthah || 5-52-12

Hearing those words, rooted in unrighteousness, enveloped in a great anger and accepted by the dishonorable, Vibhishana the best among those who were endowed with understanding, spoke the following words, comprising of the highest truth.

prasiida lankeshvara raaksasendra |

dharmaarthayuktam vachanam shrinusva |

duutaanavadhyaan samayesu raajan |

sarvesu sarvatra vadanti santah || 5-52-13

"O king of demons! O lord of ! Be gracious enough. Hear my words endowed with righteousness and significance. O king! Sages say that messengers should not be killed at all places and at all times."

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Valmiki Ramayana – Sundara Kanda – Chapter 52 asamshayam shatruh ayam pravriddhah |

kritam hi anena apriyam aprameyam |

na duuta vadhyaam pravadanti santo |

duutasya drishtaa bahavo hi dandaah || 5-52-14

"There is no doubt that this enemy is arrogant. He has created an unlimited displeasure to us. But, sages do not talk about the killing of an envoy there are indeed several punishments, intended for an envoy [messenger]."

vairuupyaam angeshu kasha abhighaato |

maundyam tathaa samnipaatah |

etaan hi duute pravadanti dandaan |

vadhah tu duutasya na nah shruto api || 5-52-15

"Some of the punishments to an envoy are-deforming the limbs, striking with a whip, shaving the head and impressing marks on the body. Indeed, we have not heard at any time of killing a messenger."

katham ca dharma artha viniita buddhih |

para avara pratyaya nishcita arthah |

bhavat vidhah kopa vashe hi tishthet |

kopam niyacchanti hi sattvavantah || 5-52-16

"How can a person like you, holding an intellect trained in religious merit and purpose and a right judgment on cause and effect, subject to anger? Wise people indeed contain their anger."

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Valmiki Ramayana – Sundara Kanda – Chapter 52 na dharma vaade na ca loka vritte |

na shaastra buddhi grahaneshu vaa api |

vidyeta kashcit tava viira tulyah |

tvam hi uttamah sarva sura asuraanaam || 5-52-17

"O hero! There is no one equal to you, who can discuss about the law or duty, none about universal custom and none in capturing the essence of scriptures. You are indeed excellent among all the celestials and demons in these matters."

shuurena viirena nishaacharendra |

suraasuraanaamapi durjayena |

tvayaa pragalbhaah suradaityasamghaa |

jitaashcha yuddhesvasakrinnarendraah || 5-52-18

"O king of demons! You are valiant. You are heroic. Even celestials and demons cannot conquer you. You conquered a multitude of proud celestials and demons together with their kings in battles several times"

na ca api asya kapeh ghaate kamcit pashyaami aham gunam |

teshv ayam paatyataam dando yaih ayam preshitah kapih || 5-52-19

"I do not see any merit in killing this monkey. Let this carnal punishment be employed on those by whom this monkey was sent."

saadhuh vaa yadi vaa asaadhuh paraih esha samarpitah |

bruvan para artham paravaan na duuto vadham arhati || 5-52-20

"He is a person, sent by our enemies, whether he is good or bad. It is not worthy of killing him, who is an envoy, who is dependent on others and who talks for the cause of others."

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Valmiki Ramayana – Sundara Kanda – Chapter 52 api ca asmin hate raajan na anyam pashyaami khe caram |

iha yah punah aagacchet param paaram mahaaudadhih || 5-52-21

"O king! Moreover, if he is killed, I do not find any other person, who can travel through the sky and come here again to this shore of the great ocean."

tasmaan na asya vadhe yatnah kaaryah para puram jaya |

bhavaan sa indreshu deveshu yatnam aasthaatum arhati || 5-52-22

"O conqueror of enemies! Therefore, do not make efforts to kill him. On the other hand, you ought to strengthen such effort on celestials including Indra."

asmin vinashte na hi duutam anyam |

pashyaami yah tau nara raaja putrau |

yuddhaaya yuddha priya durviniitaav |

udyojayet diirgha patha avaruddhau || 5-52-23

"O Ravana, who is fond of war! If he is dead, I do not find any other hero, who can incite those two arrogant princes, who are hindered by a long distance, for war."

paraakrama utsaaha manasvinaam ca |

sura asuraanaam api durjayena |

tvayaa mano nandana nairritaanaam |

yuddha aayatih naashayitum na yuktaa || 5-52-24

"O Ravana who can gladden the hearts of demons! It is not proper for you, who are difficult to be conquered by even celestials and demons having sufficient prowess energy and courage, to crush the arrival of a war."

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Valmiki Ramayana – Sundara Kanda – Chapter 52 hitaah ca shuuraah ca samaahitaah ca |

kuleshu jaataah ca mahaaguneshu |

manasvinah shastrabhritaam varishthaah |

koti agra shaste subhritaah ca yodhaah || 5-52-25

"There are more than a crore of valiant warriors in your charge, well-maintained, who desire your welfare, quite devoted, having colossal merits, born in a good tribe, holding high spirits and excellent wielders of weapons."

tat eka deshena balasya taavat |

kecit tava aadesha krito apayaantu |

tau raaja putrau vinigrihya muudhau |

pareshu te bhaavayitum prabhaavam || 5-52-26

"Therefore, let some who follow your command, by talking a portion of your army, subjugate those two stupid princes, in order to make your power known to your adversaries."

nishaacharaanaamadhipo.anujasya |

vibhiisanasyottamavaakyamistam |

jagraaha buddhyaa suralokashatru |

rmahaabalo raaksasaraajamukhyah || 5-52-27

Ravana, the mighty and the eminent king of demons as also the lord of ogres and the adversary of the world of celestials, understood the cherished and excellent message of Vibhishana his brother with his due presence of mind."

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Valmiki Ramayana – Sundara Kanda – Chapter 52 ityaarse shriimadraamaayane aadikaavye sundarakaande dvipajnchaashah sargah

Thus completes 52nd Chapter of Sundara Kanda of the glorious Ramayana of Valmiki, the work of a sage and the oldest epic.

Sriman Moola Vijayate

References

Durga, Kishore Kopalle, and K. M. K. Murthy. (2001). Sundara Kanda - Book Of Beauty.

Merriam-Webster. (2007). At http://www.m-w.com.

Reference.com. (2007). At http://www.reference.com.

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