Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 71, Shloka 59
अतिकायवधः
The Slaying of Atikāya
कर्मणासूचयात्मानं न विकत्थितुमर्हसि ।पौरुषेणतुयोयुक्तस्सतुशूरइतिस्मृतः ।।।।
karmaṇā sūcayātmānaṃ na vikatthitum arhasi | pauruṣeṇa tu yo yuktaḥ sa tu śūra iti smṛtaḥ ||
Zeige dich durch Taten; Prahlen ziemt dir nicht. Wer wahrhaft mit Tapferkeit begabt ist, der allein gilt als Held.
"Reveal yourself by action not by indication. You do not deserve it. He who is with prowess is a right hero."
FAQs
Dharma values truth expressed through action: reputation and heroism must rest on deeds, not on self-advertisement.
Lakṣmaṇa rebukes Atikāya’s proud speech and sets the standard that the battlefield will reveal genuine strength.
Moral clarity and accountability: Lakṣmaṇa insists that merit be demonstrated concretely (karma) rather than claimed verbally.