Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 64, Shloka 33
महोदर-वाक्यं कुम्भकर्ण-प्रतिषेधः
Mahodara’s Counsel and the Critique of Kumbhakarna’s Solo Assault
ञ्जनीयम्हिभर्तारंविनष्टमवगम्यसा ।नैराश्यात् स्त्रीलघुत्वाच्चत्वद्वशंप्रतिपत्स्यते ।।।।
rañjanīyaṃ hi bhartāraṃ vinaṣṭam avagamya sā | nairāśyāt strīlaghutvāc ca tvadvaśaṃ pratipatsyate ||
आपला प्रिय व रमणीय पती नष्ट झाला असे समजून ती निराशेमुळे, आणि स्त्रीस्वभावातील म्हणतात त्या चंचलतेमुळे, तुझ्या वशात येईल।
"Her charming husband ceased to live and thinking of no alternate, being a fickle woman, will accept your dependence."
FAQs
The speaker is Mahodara, a minister of Ravana. He is advising Ravana not to fight immediately but to use deception to make Sita believe Rama is dead, hoping she will then submit.
Mahodara uses a cynical argument based on 'strīlaghutva' (fickleness of women) and 'nairāśya' (despair), suggesting that without hope, loyalty falters—a view contrary to Sita's actual devotion (Pativrata Dharma).