Shloka 15

कुम्भकर्णोपदेशः

Kumbhakarna’s Counsel and War-Boast to Ravana

Devanagari script

अशास्त्रविदुषांतेषां न कार्यमभिहितंवचः ।अर्थशास्त्रानभिज्ञानांविपुलांश्रियमिच्छताम् ।।6.63.15।।

Transliteration

aśāstraviduṣāṁ teṣāṁ na kāryam abhihitaṁ vacaḥ |

arthaśāstrānabhijñānāṁ vipulāṁ śriyam icchatām || 6.63.15 ||

Translation

Auf das Wort derer, die die Śāstras nicht kennen, soll man nicht handeln—erst recht nicht auf das derer, die das Arthaśāstra nicht verstehen und doch nach großem Wohlstand verlangen.

Word by Word

• aśāstra-viduṣām: of those ignorant of śāstra
• aśāstra-viduṣām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: a-śāstra + vidvas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural; तत्पुरुष: अशास्त्रं विदन्ति ये (negated determinative)

• teṣām: of them
• teṣām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (pronoun)

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध/Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध)

• kāryam: to be done/followed
• kāryam: Pradhāna-vidheya (विधेय/Predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kārya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; predicative adjective with implied 'asti'

• abhihitam: spoken/uttered
• abhihitam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier of vacaḥ)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: abhi-√dhā (धातु: √dhā; उपसर्ग: abhi)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; agrees with vacaḥ

• vacaḥ: speech/advice
• vacaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject of implied 'is not to be followed')
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• arthaśāstra-anabhijñānām: of those ignorant of political economy
• arthaśāstra-anabhijñānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: artha-śāstra + an-abhijñā (धातु: √jñā, उपसर्ग: abhi; नञ्)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural; तत्पुरुष: अर्थशास्त्रे अनभिज्ञाः येषां ते (genitive relation to icchatām)

• vipulām: abundant
• vipulām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vipula (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; qualifies śriyam

• śriyam: prosperity/wealth
• śriyam: Karma (कर्म/Object of icchatām)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• icchatām: of those desiring
• icchatām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √iṣ (धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ), Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural; 'of those desiring'

Context

"Those who have no knowledge of shastras are ignorant of the science of wealth and desire huge wealth. Their advice ought not to be followed."

Characters & Entities

• Kumbhakarṇa
• Rāvaṇa
• śāstra

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

Right action depends on right knowledge: dharmic governance rejects counsel driven by greed and ignorance, even if it promises prosperity.

What is the narrative situation?

Kumbhakarṇa warns Rāvaṇa against following advisers who lack śāstric and practical understanding but hunger for wealth and success.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Discrimination (viveka) in choosing whose counsel to trust.