Shloka 2
रावण-सारथि-संवादः
Ravana and the Charioteer: Counsel, Omens, and Battlefield Conduct
हीनवीर्यमिवाशक्तंपौरुषेणविवर्जितम् ।भीरुंलघुमिवासत्त्वंविहीनमिवतेजसा ।।।।विमुक्तमिवमायाभिरस्त्रैरिवबहिष्कृतम् ।मामवज्ञायदुर्बुद्धेस्वयाबुद्ध्याविचेष्टसे ।।।।
hīna-vīryam ivāśaktaṃ pauruṣeṇa vivarjitam |
bhīruṃ laghum ivāsattvaṃ vihīnam iva tejasā ||
vimuktam iva māyābhir astrair iva bahiṣkṛtam |
mām avajñāya durbuddhe svayā buddhyā viceṣṭase ||
Engkau menyangka aku seperti yang kehilangan keberanian, tidak berdaya, dan terpisah daripada keperwiraan—penakut, hina, kurang semangat dan cahaya wibawa—seolah-olah ditinggalkan oleh helah dan disingkirkan oleh senjata. Wahai yang berakal buntu, engkau meremehkanku lalu bertindak menurut pertimbanganmu yang sesat.
"You dullard! Disdaining me as not capable, lacking manliness, powerless, deficient in valour, timid, incapable, petty, devoid of energy, not knowing conjuring tricks, abandoned weapons, driven out, you act not knowing me in your own way foolishly using your discretion."
FAQs
Dharma restrains harsh speech and ego-driven accusation; leadership should correct with fairness, not insult born of pride and suspicion.
Rāvaṇa lashes out at his charioteer, interpreting a tactical withdrawal/handling of the chariot as disrespect and incompetence.
By contrast (negatively), the verse highlights the lack of kṣamā (forbearance) and the danger of ahaṅkāra (ego) in a ruler.