Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 64, Shloka 14
महोदर-वाक्यं कुम्भकर्ण-प्रतिषेधः
Mahodara’s Counsel and the Critique of Kumbhakarna’s Solo Assault
तंसिंहमिवसङ्क्रुद्धंरामंदशरथात्मजम् ।सर्पंसुप्तमिवबुद्ध्यप्रबोधयितुमिच्छसि ।।।।
taṃ siṃham iva saṅkruddhaṃ rāmaṃ daśarathātmajam |
sarpaṃ suptam iva buddhyā prabodhayitum icchasi ||
দশৰথনন্দন শ্ৰীৰাম ক্ৰুদ্ধ সিংহৰ দৰে, শুই থকা সাপৰ দৰে ভয়ংকৰ—তুমি জানি-বুজি তেওঁক জাগ্ৰত কৰিব বিচাৰিছা নে?
"Do you desire to awaken Rama, who is like an enraged lion knowingly, who is like a sleeping snake?"
FAQs
Dharma includes saṃyama (restraint) and avoidance of needless escalation. Knowingly provoking a destructive conflict is portrayed as folly rather than valor.
Mahodara warns Kumbhakarṇa that confronting Rāma is like awakening a dangerous force that was better left unprovoked.
Caution informed by intelligence (buddhi): recognizing when an action will unleash disproportionate harm.