Shloka 6.14.6

विभीषणोपदेशः (Vibhīṣaṇa’s Counsel to Rāvaṇa and the Rākṣasa Court)

Devanagari script

जीवंस्तुरामस्यनमोक्ष्यसेत्वंगुप्तस्सवित्राप्यथवामरुद्भि: ।नवासवस्याङ्कगतोनमृत्योर्नभोनपाताळमनुप्रविष्टः ।।।।

Transliteration

na yakṣagandharvamahoragebhyo bhayaṃ na saṅkhye patagoragebhyaḥ | kathaṃ nu rāmād bhavitā bhayaṃ no narendraputrāt samare kadācit ||

Translation

We fear neither yakṣas, gandharvas, nor great serpents in battle; nor birds or reptiles. How then could we ever have fear of Rāma, the king’s son, in war?

Context

"Rama's arrows will not leave you with life even if you are guarded by Sun or wind god, not even if you sit on the lap of Indra or death god or even if you enter the sky or under water."

Characters & Entities

• Yakṣas
• Gandharvas
• Mahoragas (great serpents/Nāgas)
• Rāma
• Narendra-putra (king’s son)

FAQs

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

Dharma teaching by contrast: contempt for a righteous adversary and dismissal of truth leads to ethical blindness and strategic folly.

What is the narrative situation?

Prahasta argues against fear or conciliation, claiming the rākṣasas have faced greater beings and thus need not fear Rāma.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

A negative trait: overconfidence that ignores moral causality (adharma’s consequences).