Shloka 1
कुम्भकर्णप्रस्थानम्
Kumbhakarna’s Departure for Battle
स तथोक्तस्तुनिर्भर्त्स्यकुम्भकर्णोमहोदरम् ।अब्रवीद्राक्षसश्रेष्ठंभ्रातरंरावणंततः ।।।।
sa tathoktas tu nirbhartsya kumbhakarṇo mahodaram | abravīd rākṣasaśreṣṭhaṃ bhrātaraṃ rāvaṇaṃ tataḥ ||
ഇങ്ങനെ പറയപ്പെട്ടപ്പോൾ കുംഭകർണ്ണൻ മഹോദരനെ ശാസിച്ചു; തുടർന്ന് രാക്ഷസശ്രേഷ്ഠനായ തന്റെ സഹോദരൻ രാവണനോട് അഭിമുഖമായി സംസാരിച്ചു.
Kumbhakarna having heard Mahodara, warned him not to speak that way and spoke to Ravana, the foremost of Rakshasas.
FAQs
It highlights responsible speech in counsel: when policy is at stake, harmful or cowardly counsel is rebuked and the leader is addressed directly.
After reprimanding Mahodara, Kumbhakarna turns to speak to Ravana in the assembly, setting up a decisive exchange.
Frank counsel (hitavacana): willingness to correct others and speak plainly to authority.