Shloka 14
विभीषणोपदेशः
Vibhīṣaṇa’s Counsel to Rāvaṇa and the Rākṣasa Court
भित्त्वानतावत्प्रविशन्तिकायंप्राणान्तिकास्तेऽशनितुल्यवेगाः ।शिताश्शराराघवविप्रमुक्ताःप्रहस्ततेनैवविकत्थसेत्वम् ।।।।
bhittvā na tāvat praviśanti kāyaṁ prāṇāntikās te ’śani-tulya-vegāḥ | śitāḥ śarā rāghava-vipramuktāḥ prahasta tenaiva vikatthase tvam ||
Prahastha, jene scharfen Pfeile, von Rāghava entsandt—lebensbeendend, schnell wie ein Blitz—haben deinen Leib noch nicht zerrissen und durchdrungen. Gerade deshalb prahlst du noch.
"Prahastha! Before the life-threatening sharp arrows which have the speed of a meteor released by Rama penetrate and tear your body, why are you boasting yourself?"
FAQs
Dharma favors foresight: one should not mistake the absence of immediate consequences for safety or moral legitimacy.
The speaker warns that Prahasta’s confidence exists only because the fatal encounter has not yet fully struck him.
Clear-eyed realism (viveka) in the face of danger.