Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 64, Shloka 30
महोदर-वाक्यं कुम्भकर्ण-प्रतिषेधः
Mahodara’s Counsel and the Critique of Kumbhakarna’s Solo Assault
ततोऽस्मिन् बहुलीभूतेकौलीनेसर्वतोगते ।भक्षितस्ससुहृद्रामोराक्षसैरितिविश्रुते ।।।।प्रविश्याश्वास्यचापित्वंसीतांरहसिसान्त्वय ।धनधान्यैश्चकामैश्चरत्नैश्चानांप्रलोभय ।।।।
tato’smin bahulībhūte kaulīne sarvato gate |
bhakṣitaḥ sa-suhṛd rāmo rākṣasair iti viśrute ||
praviśyāśvāsya cāpi tvaṃ sītāṃ rahasi sāntvaya |
dhana-dhānyaiś ca kāmaiś ca ratnaiś caināṃ pralobhaya ||
Thereafter, when the report has spread everywhere—among the noble and throughout the land—that “Rāma, together with his friends, has been devoured by the Rākṣasas,” you should enter and, in secret, reassure Sītā and restore her confidence; then entice her with wealth and grain, with pleasures, and with jewels.
Thereafter, when the scandal that Rama and Lakshmana with all his friends have been devoured is widely spread everywhere, approaching Sita privately, restoring confidence and consoling her, tempt her with offering wealth, grain and gems and conciliate.
FAQs
The verse depicts an intentional spread of false news—claiming Rāma has been devoured—to break Sītā’s resolve. It highlights Satya by contrast: deception is shown as an adharma-based tactic, opposed to the Ramayana’s ideal of truthfulness.
It portrays adharma as attempting to overpower virtue through fear, loneliness, and material inducements. The implied dharmic lesson is that righteousness is tested not only by suffering but also by temptation, and must not be traded for wealth or pleasure.