युद्धकाण्डे द्वादशः सर्गः — रावणस्य परिषद्-सम्बोधनं कुम्भकर्णस्य नीत्युपदेशश्च
Ravana’s Council Address and Kumbhakarna’s Counsel
सर्वमेतन्महाराजकृतमप्रतिमंतव ।विधीयेतसहास्माभिरादावेवास्यकर्मणः ।।6.12.29।।
sarvam etan mahārāja kṛtam apratimaṃ tava |
vidhīyeta sahāsmābhir ādāvevā sya karmaṇaḥ ||6.12.29||
All dies, großer König, hast du allein vollbracht, unvergleichlich; besser wäre es gewesen, wenn dieses Vorhaben von Anfang an im Einvernehmen mit uns begonnen worden wäre.
"Great king! If you had discussed with us about all this action earlier, it would have been very good."
A dharmic ruler seeks counsel and accepts accountability. Acting unilaterally—especially in morally charged matters—undermines rājadharma and leads to collective harm.
Kumbhakarṇa criticizes Rāvaṇa for acting alone in the matter that provoked war, instead of consulting his advisors earlier.
The virtue emphasized is good governance through consultation (mantra), highlighting the ethical role of advisors and deliberation in statecraft.