Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 6

Meaning

Perceiving the terrible and grisly feat accomplished in Laṅkā by the high-souled Hanumān, who vied with Indra in might, Rāvaṇa, the lord of ogres, spoke as follows to all the ogres, his looks directed a bit downwards from bashfulness: (1)

Meaning

“The city of Laṅkā, which was difficult to challenge, has been assailed and penetrated into and Sītā found out by Hanumān, a mere monkey. (2)

Meaning

“The edifice used as a sanctuary has been penetrated, the topmost ogres have been killed and the entire city of Laṅkā turned upside down by Hanumān. (3)

Meaning

“May good betide you, what shall I do next? What appeals to you as advisable to do next? Please suggest what is equal to us and what, if attempted, will be well executed. (4)

Meaning

“The wise declare victory as dependent on good counsel. I, therefore, prefer to take your counsel with regard to Rāma, O ogres of extraordinary might! (5)

Meaning

“There are three kinds of men in the world—the good, the bad and the mediocre. I, for my part, describe the good points as well as the shortcomings of them all as follows: (6)

Meaning

“The wise declare him to be the foremost of men, whose counsel is actually endowed with the following three characteristics, and who prosecutes his undertakings after deliberating with his friends, who are capable of deciding a point at issue or with relations having common interests or even with his superiors and exerts himself depending on Providence. (7-8)

Meaning

“They call him mediocre, who ponders his interests by himself, sets his mind on virtue all by himself and executes his designs single-handed. (9)

Meaning

“Failing to ascertain the advantages and the disadvantages of a scheme, nay, renouncing his dependence on Providence and merely saying ‘I shall do it’, he who neglects his duty is the vilest of men. (10)

Meaning

“Even as the aforementioned people are either ever good, bad or mediocre, so the conclusion arrived at by them is also good, bad or mediocre. (11)

Meaning

“The wise declare that conclusion to be excellent in which the counsellors feel specially interested, after reaching an agreement based on a point of view supported by the scriptures. (12)

Meaning

“That conclusion is declared to be mediocre in arriving at which the judgment of the counsellors with regard to the point at issue reaches unanimity only after meeting with different angles of views. (13)

Meaning

“That conclusion, again, is declared to be third-rate, in arriving at which speeches and counter-speeches are made emphasising different points of view and from which good fortune does not follow even in the event of unanimity being arrived at somehow. (14)

Meaning

“Therefore, determine you, who are foremost in point of intelligence, a course of conduct which is well-deliberated and, therefore, right. This alone is reckoned by me as worth adopting. (15)

Meaning

“Surrounded by thousands of heroic monkeys, Rāma is actually advancing towards the city of Laṅkā in order to besiege us. (16)

Meaning

“Clearly enough, by virtue of his might, which is worthy of him, Rāma (a scion of Raghu) will cross the sea with ease alongwith his younger brother as well as with his forces and entourage. (17)

Meaning

“He will either dry up the sea by dint of his prowess or do something else to bridge the sea. The aforesaid work of invading Laṅkā having commenced in this way and antagonism with the monkeys having been set on foot, advice may be tendered to me on whatever is good for the city and the army.” (18)