Shloka 13

कुम्भकर्णोपदेशः

Kumbhakarna’s Counsel and War-Boast to Ravana

Devanagari script

हितानुबन्धमालोच्यकार्यात्कार्यमिहात्मनः ।राजासहार्थतत्त्वज्ञैस्सचिवैर्बुस्सहिजीवति ।।6.63.13।।

Transliteration

hitānubandham ālocya kāryāt kāryam ihātmanaḥ |

rājā sahārthatattvajñaiḥ sacivair buddhisahāya jīvati || 6.63.13 ||

Translation

ഹിതത്തിന്റെ ദീർഘഫലബന്ധം ആലോചിച്ച്, ഇവിടെ തന്റെ ഓരോ കാര്യവും യഥാവിധി നിർണ്ണയിക്കുന്ന രാജാവ്—അർത്ഥതത്ത്വം അറിയുന്ന മന്ത്രിമാരോടൊപ്പം—അവരുടെ ബുദ്ധിയും ഉപദേശവും ആശ്രയിച്ച് നിലനിൽക്കുന്നു.

Word by Word

हितानुबन्धम्beneficial consequence/connected benefit

आलोच्यhaving considered

कार्यात्from an action

कार्यम्what should be done; task

इहhere

आत्मनःof oneself

राजाthe king

सहtogether with

अर्थतत्त्वज्ञैःwith knowers of true policy/reality

सचिवैःwith ministers

बहुभिःmany

सहtogether with

जीवतिlives/prospers

Context

"That king who knows the reality of things and makes decisions in consultation with his ministers, who make their living with their intelligence will live happily."

Characters & Entities

Kumbhakarṇa

Rāvaṇa

rājā (king)

saciva (ministers)

FAQs

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

Dharma in governance is foresight: weighing beneficial outcomes and acting through informed counsel rather than impulse sustains the ruler and the realm.

What is the narrative situation?

Kumbhakarṇa explains that a king thrives by reflecting on welfare and relying on ministers who understand practical realities.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Foresight (dīrghadarśitā) and respect for competent counsel.