Shloka 53
सूर्य–कर्णोपदेशः
Sūrya’s Counsel to Karṇa on Kīrti and the Kuṇḍala
प्रतिपन्नौ यदा रूप॑ राक्षसं तौ निशाचरौ । दर्शयित्वा तत: सैन्यं राम: पश्चादवासृजत्
pratipannau yadā rūpaṃ rākṣasaṃ tau niśācarau | darśayitvā tataḥ sainyaṃ rāmaḥ paścād avāsṛjat ||
Mārkaṇḍeya said: “When those two night-roaming beings had assumed a rākṣasa form, Rāma first revealed the army to them, and only afterwards let them go.”
मार्कण्डेय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights disciplined leadership and measured use of force: Rāma assesses and reveals strength first, then acts—suggesting that power should be deployed deliberately, not impulsively, especially against deceptive or hostile beings.
Two night-roaming beings take on a rākṣasa form. Rāma shows them his army—making his preparedness and authority clear—and only after that releases the army to proceed with action.