Shloka 6.8.22

युद्धकाण्डे अष्टमः सर्गः — राक्षससभा-युद्धपरामर्शः (War-Council Boasts and Stratagems)

Devanagari script

स्वैरंकुर्वन्तुकर्माणिभवन्तोविगतज्वराः ।।6.8.22।।एकोऽहंभक्षयिष्यामितांसर्वांहरियूथपान् ।स्वस्थाःक्रीडन्तुनिश्चिन्ताःपिबन्तुमधुवारुणीम् ।।6.8.23।।

Transliteration

svairaṃ kurvantu karmāṇi bhavanto vigatajvarāḥ ||6.8.22||

eko'haṃ bhakṣayiṣyāmi tāṃ sarvāṃ hariyūthapān |

svasthāḥ krīḍantu niścintāḥ pibantu madhuvāruṇīm ||6.8.23||

Translation

Go about your duties as you please, free from all anxiety. I alone will devour the entire host of vānara chieftains. Rest at ease—sport without worry, and drink sweet wine.

Context

All of you giving up fear, do your duties freely move happily sporting and drinking sweet wine. Single handed, I will consume all the Vanara army.

Characters & Entities

• Vajrahanu
• Rāvaṇa
• Vānara host (hariyūtha)
• Wine (madhu-vāruṇī)

FAQs

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

It warns against intoxication—both literal (wine) and moral (hubris). Dharma upholds vigilance, restraint, and truthfulness, not complacent indulgence amid wrongdoing.

What is the narrative situation?

Vajrahanu boasts that he alone can destroy the vanara forces and tells others to relax and drink.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The verse emphasizes a negative trait: reckless overconfidence and craving, which the epic treats as signs of impending downfall.