Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 67, Shloka 129
कुम्भकर्णवधः
The Slaying of Kumbhakarna
नैवायंवानरान्राजन्नविजानातिराक्षसान् ।।।।मत्तश्शोणितगन्धे न स्वान् परांश्चैवखादति ।
naivāyaṁ vānarān rājan avijānāti rākṣasān | mattaḥ śoṇitagandhena na svān parāṁś caiva khādati ||
أيها الملك، لقد أسكره عبير الدم، فلم يعد يميّز الفانارا من الراكشاسا؛ إنه يلتهم بلا تمييز، أتباعه والعدوّ سواء.
"This king intoxicated with the smell of blood is not knowing his own people and foes and devouring both Vanaras and Rakshasas."
FAQs
Dharma in battle requires discrimination (viveka)—knowing whom to strike and protecting one’s own. Bloodlust that erases discernment is portrayed as adharma-like chaos.
In the chaos of the battlefield, the speaker describes a blood-intoxicated warrior (contextually Kumbhakarna) who is indiscriminately killing, unable to distinguish friend from foe.
Prudence and moral clarity: the ability to assess rightly even amid violence, contrasting disciplined heroism with uncontrolled rage.
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