Shloka 6.63.8

कुम्भकर्णोपदेशः — Kumbhakarna’s Counsel and War-Boast to Ravana

Devanagari script

यथागमं च योराजासमयंविचिकीर्षति ।बुध्यतेसचिवान्बध्यासुहृदश्चानुपश्यति ।।6.63.8।।

Transliteration

vadhena te dāśaratheḥ sukhārhaṃ sukhaṃ samāhartum ahaṃ vrajāmi |

nihatya rāmaṃ saha-lakṣmaṇena khādāmi hari-yūtha-mukhyān ||6.63.57||

Translation

“By killing Rāma, son of Daśaratha, I go to secure for you the happiness you deem your due. After striking down Rāma together with Lakṣmaṇa, I shall devour the foremost leaders of the Vānara hosts.”

Context

"The king who does his duty in time in accordance with justice and thinking intelligently with his ministers, understands rightly."

Characters & Entities

• Kumbhakarṇa
• Rāma (Dāśarathi)
• Daśaratha
• Lakṣmaṇa
• Vānara leaders (hari-yūtha-mukhyāḥ)

FAQs

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

Loyalty is not automatically dharmic; when loyalty serves injustice, it becomes complicity in adharma—contrasting with righteous service aligned to truth.

What is the narrative situation?

Kumbhakarṇa declares he will fight for Rāvaṇa’s sake, specifically targeting Rāma, Lakṣmaṇa, and the Vānara commanders.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Courage and loyalty, but portrayed as ethically misdirected because the cause is unrighteous.