Shloka 6.6.10

रावणस्य मन्त्रविचारः — Ravana’s Council on Strategy

Devanagari script

गुणदोषौवनिशिचत्य त्यक्त्यादैवव्यपाश्रयम् ।।6.6.10।।करिष्यामीतियःकार्यमुपेक्षेत्सनराधमः ।

Transliteration

guṇadoṣau va niścitya tyaktvā daivavyapāśrayam |

kariṣyāmīti yaḥ kāryam upekṣet sa narādhamaḥ ||6.6.10||

Translation

He who, without weighing merit and fault, and abandoning reliance on providence, undertakes a task thinking, “I alone will do it,”—that man is the lowest of men.

Context

"He who fails to consider the merits and de merits, decides to do on his own and begins without faith in god saying, 'I' will do it, is a lowly one among men."

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Rākṣasa council (implied)
• daiva (providence/ethical order)

FAQs

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

Dharma in governance requires discernment (guṇa-doṣa-vicāra) and humility. Acting from ego—“I alone”—without assessing consequences violates responsible action and truth-oriented judgment (Satya).

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa outlines standards of sound decision-making to his rākṣasa assembly in the wake of crisis caused by Hanumān.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The virtue taught is prudence: careful evaluation, non-egotism, and accountable initiative.