Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 64, Shloka 5
रम्भा
प्रलोभनम् — Rambhā’s Temptation and Viśvāmitra’s Curse
माभैषी रम्भे भद्रं ते कुरुष्व मम शासनम्।।1.64.5।।कोकिलो हृदयग्राही माधवे रुचिरद्रुमे।अहं कन्दर्पसहित स्स्थास्यामि तव पार्श्वत:।।1.64.6।।
mābhaiṣī rambhe bhadraṃ te kuruṣva mama śāsanam || 1.64.5 ||
kokilo hṛdayagrāhī mādhave ruciradrume |
ahaṃ kandarpasahitaḥ sthāsyāmi tava pārśvataḥ || 1.64.6 ||
“Do not be afraid, Rambhā; may you be blessed. Carry out my command. In spring, amid lovely trees, I shall stay at your side—taking the captivating form of a cuckoo—together with Kandarpa.”
O Rama! having heard Rambha trembling in fear and standing with folded palms, Indra spoke:
FAQs
It implicitly contrasts dharma as self-mastery (tapas) with the deliberate manufacture of temptation; the scene teaches how powerful desires can be orchestrated and why vigilance is central to righteous discipline.
Indra reassures Rambhā and outlines a plan: he will support her by appearing as a cuckoo in spring, with Cupid, to help distract Viśvāmitra.
From Indra’s side, decisive leadership and reassurance to an anxious agent; from the ethical lens of the epic, the opposing virtue highlighted by contrast is the ascetic’s needed steadfastness.
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