Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 6, Shloka 9
रावणस्य मन्त्रविचारः
Ravana’s Council on Strategy
कोऽर्थंविमृशेदेकोधर्मेप्रकुरुतेमनः ।।6.6.9।।कःकार्याणिकुरुतेतमाहुर्मध्यमंनरम् ।
ko 'rthaṃ vimṛśed eko dharme prakurute manaḥ |
kaḥ kāryāṇi kurute tam āhur madhyamaṃ naram ||6.6.9||
यः एक एव अर्थं विमृशेत्, धर्मे मनः प्रकुरुते, कार्याणि च स्वयम् एव करोति—तं मध्यमं नरम् इति आहुः।
"He who thinks solitarily (not with others), deliberates with in his mind on his duty and executes his tasks, is said to be a (mediocre) a mediocre one."
FAQs
Dharma in governance and action requires mature counsel—seeking advice and deliberating responsibly—rather than acting in isolation based only on one’s private judgment.
A reflective statement on decision-making and competence, likely occurring amid wartime deliberations where strategy and dharma-guided action must be coordinated through counsel.
Prudent judgment (viveka) expressed through consultation, coordinated effort, and disciplined execution of duty rather than solitary, self-contained action.