Vibhishana defends the envoy

स तस्य वचनं श्रुत्वा वानरस्य महात्मनः ।

sa tasya vacanaṃ śrutvā vānarasya mahātmanaḥ |

Hearing the words of the great vanara,

आज्ञापयद् वधं तस्य रावणः क्रोधमूर्च्छितः ॥

ājñāpayad vadhaṃ tasya rāvaṇaḥ krodhamūrcchitaḥ ||

Ravana, overcome by anger, ordered him to be killed.

वधे तस्य समाज्ञप्ते रावणेन दुरात्मना ।

vadhe tasya samājñapte rāvaṇena durātmanā |

When the ill-minded Ravana commanded that death,

निवेदितवतो दौत्यं नानुमेने विभीषणः ॥

niveditavato dautyaṃ nānumene vibhīṣaṇaḥ ||

Vibhishana would not approve the killing of one who had declared himself an envoy.

तं रक्षोऽधिपतिं क्रुद्धं तच्च कार्यमुपस्थितम् ।

taṃ rakṣo’dhipatiṃ kruddhaṃ tacca kāryamupasthitam |

Understanding the king's anger and the immediate danger,

विदित्वा चिन्तयामास कार्यं कार्यविधौ स्थितः ॥

viditvā cintayāmāsa kāryaṃ kāryavidhau sthitaḥ ||

he reflected on what must be done, holding to proper procedure.

निश्चितार्थस्ततः साम्ना पूज्यं शत्रुजिदग्रजम् ।

niścitārthastataḥ sāmnā pūjyaṃ śatrujidagrajam |

Having reached a decision, that skilled speaker respectfully and gently

उवाच हितमत्यर्थं वाक्यं वाक्यविशारदः ॥

uvāca hitamatyarthaṃ vākyaṃ vākyaviśāradaḥ ||

offered deeply beneficial words to his elder brother, conqueror of foes.

क्षमस्व रोषं त्यज राक्षसेन्द्र

kṣamasva roṣaṃ tyaja rākṣasendra

'Be patient, rakshasa king; put away anger.

प्रसीद मे वाक्यमिदं शृणुष्व ।

prasīda me vākyamidaṃ śṛṇuṣva |

Be gracious and listen to these words of mine.

वधं न कुर्वन्ति परावरज्ञा

vadhaṃ na kurvanti parāvarajñā

Good sovereigns who understand right distinctions

दूतस्य सन्तो वसुधाधिपेन्द्राः ॥

dūtasya santo vasudhādhipendrāḥ ||

do not put a messenger to death.

राजन् धर्मविरुद्धं च लोकवृत्तेश्च गर्हितम् ।

rājan dharmaviruddhaṃ ca lokavṛtteśca garhitam |

King, killing this vanara opposes righteousness,

तव चासदृशं वीर कपेरस्य प्रमापणम् ॥

tava cāsadṛśaṃ vīra kaperasya pramāpaṇam ||

is condemned by worldly practice, and is unworthy of you, hero.

धर्मज्ञश्च कृतज्ञश्च राजधर्मविशारदः ।

dharmajñaśca kṛtajñaśca rājadharmaviśāradaḥ |

You know righteousness and gratitude and are skilled in royal duty;

परावरज्ञो भूतानां त्वमेव परमार्थवित् ॥

parāvarajño bhūtānāṃ tvameva paramārthavit ||

you discern the higher and lower among beings and understand what matters.

गृह्यन्ते यदि रोषेण त्वादृशोऽपि विचक्षणाः ।

gṛhyante yadi roṣeṇa tvādṛśo’pi vicakṣaṇāḥ |

If even discerning people like you are overcome by anger,

ततः शास्त्रविपश्चित्त्वं श्रम एव हि केवलम् ॥

tataḥ śāstravipaścittvaṃ śrama eva hi kevalam ||

then learning and knowledge of the teachings are merely wasted effort.

तस्मात् प्रसीद शत्रुघ्न राक्षसेन्द्र दुरासद ।

tasmāt prasīda śatrughna rākṣasendra durāsada |

Therefore be gracious, enemy-subduing and unassailable rakshasa king;

युक्तायुक्तं विनिश्चित्य दूतदण्डो विधीयताम् ॥

yuktāyuktaṃ viniścitya dūtadaṇḍo vidhīyatām ||

decide what is proper and improper before imposing punishment on the envoy.

विभीषणवचः श्रुत्वा रावणो राक्षसेश्वरः ।

vibhīṣaṇavacaḥ śrutvā rāvaṇo rākṣaseśvaraḥ |

Hearing Vibhishana's words, the rakshasa king Ravana,

कोपेन महताऽऽविष्टो वाक्यमुत्तरमब्रवीत् ॥

kopena mahatā’’viṣṭo vākyamuttaramabravīt ||

possessed by great anger, spoke in reply.

न पापानां वधे पापं विद्यते शत्रुसूदन ।

na pāpānāṃ vadhe pāpaṃ vidyate śatrusūdana |

'There is no wrongdoing in killing evildoers, destroyer of foes.

तस्मादिमं वधिष्यामि वानरं पापकारिणम् ॥

tasmādimaṃ vadhiṣyāmi vānaraṃ pāpakāriṇam ||

Therefore I will kill this vanara who has committed evil.'

अधर्ममूलं बहुदोषयुक्त-

adharmamūlaṃ bahudoṣayukta-

Hearing words rooted in unrighteousness, full of faults

मनार्यजुष्टं वचनं निशम्य ।

manāryajuṣṭaṃ vacanaṃ niśamya |

and favoured by the ignoble,

उवाच वाक्यं परमार्थतत्त्वं

uvāca vākyaṃ paramārthatattvaṃ

Vibhishana, foremost among the wise,

विभीषणो बुद्धिमतां वरिष्ठः ॥

vibhīṣaṇo buddhimatāṃ variṣṭhaḥ ||

spoke words expressing the true principle.

प्रसीद लङ्केश्वर राक्षसेन्द्र

prasīda laṅkeśvara rākṣasendra

'Be gracious, lord of Lanka and king of rakshasas.

धर्मार्थतत्त्वं वचनं शृणुष्व ।

dharmārthatattvaṃ vacanaṃ śṛṇuṣva |

Hear the principle of righteousness and sound policy.

दूता न वध्याः समयेषु राजन्

dūtā na vadhyāḥ samayeṣu rājan

In every place and under every agreement, king,

सर्वेषु सर्वत्र वदन्ति सन्तः ॥

sarveṣu sarvatra vadanti santaḥ ||

good people declare that envoys must not be killed.

असंशयं शत्रुरयं प्रवृद्धः

asaṃśayaṃ śatrurayaṃ pravṛddhaḥ

Undoubtedly this is a formidable enemy

कृतं ह्यनेनाप्रियमप्रमेयम् ।

kṛtaṃ hyanenāpriyamaprameyam |

who has done us immeasurable harm.

न दूतवध्यां प्रवदन्ति सन्तो

na dūtavadhyāṃ pravadanti santo

Yet good people do not prescribe death for a messenger;

दूतस्य दृष्टा बहवो हि दण्डाः ॥

dūtasya dṛṣṭā bahavo hi daṇḍāḥ ||

many other punishments for envoys are known.

वैरूप्यमङ्गेषु कशाभिघातो

vairūpyamaṅgeṣu kaśābhighāto

Disfigurement of limbs, blows with a whip,

मौण्ड्यं तथा लक्षणसंनिपातः ।

mauṇḍyaṃ tathā lakṣaṇasaṃnipātaḥ |

shaving the head and marking the body—

एतान् हि दूते प्रवदन्ति दण्डान्

etān hi dūte pravadanti daṇḍān

these are punishments described for envoys;

वधस्तु दूतस्य न नः श्रुतोऽस्ति ॥

vadhastu dūtasya na naḥ śruto’sti ||

we have not heard of killing a messenger.

कथं च धर्मार्थविनीतबुद्धिः

kathaṃ ca dharmārthavinītabuddhiḥ

How could one like you, trained in righteousness and statecraft,

परावरप्रत्ययनिश्चितार्थः ।

parāvarapratyayaniścitārthaḥ |

firm in judging relative strengths,

भवद्विधः कोपवशे हि तिष्ठेत्

bhavadvidhaḥ kopavaśe hi tiṣṭhet

remain under anger's control?

कोपं न गच्छन्ति हि सत्त्ववन्तः ॥

kopaṃ na gacchanti hi sattvavantaḥ ||

Those with self-command do not surrender to anger.

न धर्मवादे न च लोकवृत्ते

na dharmavāde na ca lokavṛtte

In discussion of righteousness, worldly conduct,

न शास्त्रबुद्धिग्रहणेषु वापि ।

na śāstrabuddhigrahaṇeṣu vāpi |

or understanding the teachings,

विद्येत कश्चित्तव वीर तुल्य-

vidyeta kaścittava vīra tulya-

no one is your equal, hero;

स्त्वं ह्युत्तमः सर्वसुरासुराणाम् ॥

stvaṃ hyuttamaḥ sarvasurāsurāṇām ||

you surpass gods and asuras.

पराक्रमोत्साहमनस्विनां च

parākramotsāhamanasvināṃ ca

Invincible even to courageous, spirited gods and asuras,

सुरासुराणामपि दुर्जयेन ।

surāsurāṇāmapi durjayena |

you possess immeasurable strength.

त्वयाप्रमेयेण सुरेन्द्रसङ्घा

tvayāprameyeṇa surendrasaṅghā

Again and again in battle,

जिताश्च युद्धेष्वसकृन्नरेन्द्राः ॥

jitāśca yuddheṣvasakṛnnarendrāḥ ||

you have conquered hosts of divine chiefs and kings.

इत्थंविधस्यामरदैत्यशत्रोः

itthaṃvidhasyāmaradaityaśatroḥ

Against an undefeated, valiant hero such as you,

शूरस्य वीरस्य तवाजितस्य ।

śūrasya vīrasya tavājitasya |

enemy of gods and daityas,

कुर्वन्ति वीरा मनसाप्यलीकं

kurvanti vīrā manasāpyalīkaṃ

warriors can conceive of wrongdoing

प्राणैर्विमुक्ता न तु भोः पुरा ते ॥

prāṇairvimuktā na tu bhoḥ purā te ||

only after surrendering hope of their lives, not before.

न चाप्यस्य कपेर्घाते कंचित् पश्याम्यहं गुणम् ।

na cāpyasya kaperghāte kaṃcit paśyāmyahaṃ guṇam |

I see no advantage in killing this vanara.

तेष्वयं पात्यतां दण्डो यैरयं प्रेषितः कपिः ॥

teṣvayaṃ pātyatāṃ daṇḍo yairayaṃ preṣitaḥ kapiḥ ||

Let punishment fall upon those who sent him.

साधुर्वा यदि वासाधुः परैरेष समर्पितः ।

sādhurvā yadi vāsādhuḥ paraireṣa samarpitaḥ |

Whether good or bad, he has been commissioned by others.

ब्रुवन् परार्थं परवान् न दूतो वधमर्हति ॥

bruvan parārthaṃ paravān na dūto vadhamarhati ||

Speaking another's purpose under another's command, an envoy does not deserve death.

अपि चास्मिन् हते नान्यं राजन् पश्यामि खेचरम् ।

api cāsmin hate nānyaṃ rājan paśyāmi khecaram |

If he is killed, king, I see no other sky-traveller

इह यः पुनरागच्छेत् परं पारं महोदधेः ॥

iha yaḥ punarāgacchet paraṃ pāraṃ mahodadheḥ ||

who would come again from the far shore of the great ocean.

तस्मान्नास्य वधे यत्नः कार्यः परपुरंजय ।

tasmānnāsya vadhe yatnaḥ kāryaḥ parapuraṃjaya |

Therefore, conqueror of enemy cities, do not exert yourself to kill him;

भवान् सेन्द्रेषु देवेषु यत्नमास्थातुमर्हति ॥

bhavān sendreṣu deveṣu yatnamāsthātumarhati ||

your efforts are worthy of opponents such as the gods with Indra.

अस्मिन् विनष्टे नहि भूतमन्यं

asmin vinaṣṭe nahi bhūtamanyaṃ

If this creature is destroyed, I see no other

पश्यामि यस्तौ नरराजपुत्रौ ।

paśyāmi yastau nararājaputrau |

who would rouse those two princes,

युद्धाय युद्धप्रिय दुर्विनीता-

yuddhāya yuddhapriya durvinītā-

your defiant human enemies,

वुद्योजयेद् वै भवता विरुद्धौ ॥

vudyojayed vai bhavatā viruddhau ||

to come to battle, you who delight in war.

पराक्रमोत्साहमनस्विनां च

parākramotsāhamanasvināṃ ca

You are difficult even for brave and spirited

सुरासुराणामपि दुर्जयेन ।

surāsurāṇāmapi durjayena |

gods and asuras to overcome.

त्वया मनोनन्दन नैर्ऋतानां

tvayā manonandana nairṛtānāṃ

Delight of the rakshasas, it is not fitting

युद्धाय निर्नाशयितुं न युक्तम् ॥

yuddhāya nirnāśayituṃ na yuktam ||

to destroy this opportunity for battle.

हिताश्च शूराश्च समाहिताश्च

hitāśca śūrāśca samāhitāśca

Your warriors are loyal, brave and disciplined,

कुलेषु जाताश्च महागुणेषु ।

kuleṣu jātāśca mahāguṇeṣu |

born into highly distinguished families,

मनस्विनः शस्त्रभृतां वरिष्ठाः

manasvinaḥ śastrabhṛtāṃ variṣṭhāḥ

resolute, foremost bearers of weapons,

कोपप्रशस्ताः सुभृताश्च योधाः ॥

kopapraśastāḥ subhṛtāśca yodhāḥ ||

renowned for fierce courage and well supported.

तदेकदेशेन बलस्य तावत्

tadekadeśena balasya tāvat

Let some of them go today at your command

केचित् तवादेशकृतोऽद्य यान्तु ।

kecit tavādeśakṛto’dya yāntu |

with only a portion of your forces.

तौ राजपुत्रावुपगृह्य मूढौ

tau rājaputrāvupagṛhya mūḍhau

Let them seize those two deluded princes

परेषु ते भावयितुं प्रभावम् ॥

pareṣu te bhāvayituṃ prabhāvam ||

and make your power known to your enemies.'

निशाचराणामधिपोऽनुजस्य

niśācarāṇāmadhipo’nujasya

The immensely strong rakshasa king, enemy of heaven,

विभीषणस्योत्तमवाक्यमिष्टम् ।

vibhīṣaṇasyottamavākyamiṣṭam |

thoughtfully accepted the excellent and welcome words

जग्राह बुद्ध्या सुरलोकशत्रु-

jagrāha buddhyā suralokaśatru-

of his younger brother

र्महाबलो राक्षसराजमुख्यः ॥

rmahābalo rākṣasarājamukhyaḥ ||

Vibhishana.