Shloka 18
युद्धकाण्डे द्वादशः सर्गः — रावणस्य परिषद्-सम्बोधनं कुम्भकर्णस्य नीत्युपदेशश्च
Ravana’s Council Address and Kumbhakarna’s Counsel
सातुसंवत्सरंकालंमामयाचतभामिनी ।।6.12.18।।प्रतीक्षमाणाभर्तारंराममायतलोचना ।तन्मयाचारुनेत्रायःप्रतिज्ञातंवचश्शुभम् ।।6.12.19।।श्रान्तोऽहंसततंकामाद्यातोहयइवाध्वनि ।
sā tu saṃvatsaraṃ kālaṃ mām ayācata bhāminī |
pratīkṣamāṇā bhartāraṃ rāmam āyatalocanā ||6.12.18||
tan mayā cārunetrāyāḥ pratijñātaṃ vacaḥ śubham ||6.12.19||
śrānto 'haṃ satataṃ kāmād yāto haya ivādhvani |
Wanita bermata lebar itu, sambil menanti suaminya Rama, memohon kepadaku tempoh setahun. Dan aku pun mengucapkan kepada si bermata indah itu suatu janji yang membawa berkat. Namun, didorong nafsu, aku sentiasa letih—bagaikan kuda yang lesu di perjalanan.
"Broadeyed Sita requested me one year time expecting her husband Rama to come (this is a false statement made by Ravana here) and I promised in turn to Sita of beautiful eyes. Just like an exhausted horse that marched I am tired on account of my passion."
FAQs
It foregrounds satya and the sanctity of promises (pratijñā), while also showing how adharma manipulates truth; dharma requires truthful speech and honoring rightful relationships.
Rāvaṇa claims Sītā requested a year to wait for Rāma and that he promised accordingly, while confessing his exhaustion from desire—revealing inner conflict and potential deceit.
The ideal virtue is satya (truthfulness) and integrity in promises; the passage, however, is framed through a speaker whose desire tends toward distortion of truth.