Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 10, Shloka 27
विभीषणोपदेशः
Vibhishana’s Counsel to Ravana and the Catalogue of Omens
हितंमहार्थंमृदुहेतुसंहितंव्यतीतकालायतिसम्प्रतिक्षमम् ।निशम्यतद्वाक्यमुपस्थितज्वरःप्रसङ्गवानुत्तरमेतदब्रवीत् ।।।।
hitaṁ mahārthaṁ mṛdu hetusaṁhitaṁ vyatīta-kālāyati-samprati-kṣamam |
niśamya tad vākyaṁ upasthita-jvaraḥ prasaṅgavān uttaram etad abravīt ||
Having heard those gentle words—beneficial, weighty, and grounded in reason, fit for past, present, and future—Rāvaṇa, seized by the fever of anger, replied with a hostile retort.
"I do not perceive fear from anyone. Rama will not be able to get Mythili at any time. How can the elder brother of Lakshmana withstand me even if Indra and Devatas come (to his help) in battle"
FAQs
Dharma requires mastery over krodha (anger): anger distorts judgment and makes one reject reasoned, truthful counsel.
After listening to Vibhīṣaṇa’s well-reasoned advice, Rāvaṇa becomes enraged and prepares to answer harshly.
By contrast, the virtue highlighted is reasonableness and gentleness in counsel—qualities the listener fails to honor.