Shloka 16
अरण्यकाण्डे एकोनत्रिंशः सर्गः
Sarga 29: Rama’s Admonition to Khara and the Shattering of the Mace
प्राकृतान्राक्षसान्हत्वा युद्धे दशरथात्मज।आत्मना कथमात्मानमप्रशस्यं प्रशंससि।।।।
prākṛtān rākṣasān hatvā yuddhe daśarathātmaja | ātmanā katham ātmānam apraśasyaṃ praśaṃsasi ||
प्राकृतान् राक्षसान् हत्वा युद्धे दशरथात्मज। आत्मना कथमात्मानम् अप्रशस्यं प्रशंससि॥
O son of Dasaratha, it is not praiseworthy to kill ordinary demons in war. Why do you praise yourself for it?
FAQs
A social ethic of humility is invoked (even if hypocritically): true merit does not require self-praise.
Khara responds to Rama’s challenge by attempting to shame him for self-assertion before the duel continues.
Humility (amānitva) is named as a virtue—though spoken here by an antagonist as a taunt.