Shloka 20
अरण्यकाण्डे एकोनत्रिंशः सर्गः
Sarga 29: Rama’s Admonition to Khara and the Shattering of the Mace
सर्वथैव लघुत्वं ते कत्थनेन विदर्शितम्।सुवर्णप्रतिरूपेण तप्तेनेव कुशाग्निना।।।।
sarvathaiva laghutvaṃ te katthanena vidarśitam | suvarṇapratirūpeṇa tapteneva kuśāgninā ||
Durch dein Prahlen ist deine Geringheit völlig offenbar geworden — wie das Feuer des Kuśa-Grases, das, wenn es aufflammt, in goldgleichem Schein erglüht.
All your meanness is exhibited by your boasting just as the kusa grass caught by fire appears like gold.
FAQs
Speech exposes character: boastful display is portrayed as a sign of inner smallness, not true virtue.
Khara concludes his taunting critique of Rama’s words with a metaphor comparing boastful brilliance to deceptive fire-glow.
Humility and authenticity—true worth should be steady and proven by deeds, not by showy speech.