Valmiki Ramayana 1.64.5-6: Bala Kanda, Sarga 64, Shlokas 5-6
रम्भा
प्रलोभनम् · Rambhā’s Temptation and Viśvāmitra’s Curse
माभैषी रम्भे भद्रं ते कुरुष्व मम शासनम् ॥५॥
कोकिलो हृदयग्राही माधवे रुचिरद्रुमे ।
अहं कन्दर्पसहित स्स्थास्यामि तव पार्श्वतः ॥६॥
mābhaiṣī rambhe bhadraṃ te kuruṣva mama śāsanam ||5||
kokilo hṛdayagrāhī mādhave ruciradrume |
ahaṃ kandarpasahitaḥ sthāsyāmi tava pārśvataḥ ||6||
इंद्र ने कहा, रम्भा, डरो मत, सब ठीक होगा। मेरा काम करो। बसंत में जब पेड़ प्यारे लगते हैं, मैं कोकिला बन के तुम्हारे पास आऊँगा। कंदर्प भी मेरे साथ होगा।
'O Rambha! have no fear. Feel safe. Carry out my order. When the trees look so beautiful in spring I shall in captivating the form of a cuckoo, stay by your side in the company of Kamadeva (Cupid).
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.
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