Shloka 6
रम्भा
प्रलोभनम् — Rambhā’s Temptation and Viśvāmitra’s Curse
माभैषी रम्भे भद्रं ते कुरुष्व मम शासनम्।।1.64.5।।कोकिलो हृदयग्राही माधवे रुचिरद्रुमे।अहं कन्दर्पसहित स्स्थास्यामि तव पार्श्वत:।।1.64.6।।
mābhaiṣī rambhe bhadraṃ te kuruṣva mama śāsanam || 1.64.5 ||
kokilo hṛdayagrāhī mādhave ruciradrume |
ahaṃ kandarpasahitaḥ sthāsyāmi tava pārśvataḥ || 1.64.6 ||
‘रम्भे! मत डर, तेरा कल्याण हो। मेरे आदेश का पालन कर। वसन्त (माधव) में रमणीय वृक्षों के बीच मैं कोयल का मनोहर रूप धारण करके, कन्दर्प के साथ, तेरे पास ही रहूँगा।’
O Rama! having heard Rambha trembling in fear and standing with folded palms, Indra spoke:
FAQs
It implicitly contrasts dharma as self-mastery (tapas) with the deliberate manufacture of temptation; the scene teaches how powerful desires can be orchestrated and why vigilance is central to righteous discipline.
Indra reassures Rambhā and outlines a plan: he will support her by appearing as a cuckoo in spring, with Cupid, to help distract Viśvāmitra.
From Indra’s side, decisive leadership and reassurance to an anxious agent; from the ethical lens of the epic, the opposing virtue highlighted by contrast is the ascetic’s needed steadfastness.