Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 88, Shloka 27
इन्द्रजित्–लक्ष्मण संवादः तथा युद्धप्रवृत्तिः
Indrajit and Lakshmana: War-Boasts, Rebuke, and the Clash
वाग्बलंत्यजदुर्बुद्धेक्रूरकर्मासिराक्षस ।।।।अथकस्माद्वदस्येतत्सम्पादयसुकर्मणा ।
vāg-balaṃ tyaja durbuddhe krūra-karmāsi rākṣasa |
atha kasmād vadasy etat sampādaya su-karmaṇā ||
“Abandon this mere strength of speech, you evil-minded Rākṣasa—your deeds are cruel. Why speak like this now? Prove yourself through good action.”
"Evil minded Rakshasa! Give up that wasteful power of speech. You are cruel in action. What is the use of all this now? Show by good deeds and not by talk."
FAQs
Dharma values truth proven by conduct: speech without righteous action is hollow; integrity (satya) is established through deeds.
Lakṣmaṇa rebukes Indrajit’s harsh boasting and challenges him to demonstrate capability through action in the battlefield.
Accountability and moral realism: Lakṣmaṇa insists that worth is measured by conduct, not rhetoric.