Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 63, Shloka 10
कुम्भकर्णोपदेशः
Kumbhakarna’s Counsel and War-Boast to Ravana
त्रिषुचैतेषुयच्छ्रेष्ठंश्रुत्वातन्नावबुध्यते ।राजावाराजमात्रोवाव्यर्थंतस्यबहुश्रुतम् ।।6.63.10।।
triṣu caiteṣu yac chreṣṭhaṁ śrutvā tan nāvabudhyate |
rājā vā rājamātro vā vyarthaṁ tasya bahuśrutam || 6.63.10 ||
இந்த மூன்றிலும் எது சிறந்ததோ அதை கேட்டும் உணராதவன்—அவன் அரசனாக இருந்தாலும் அரசன் எனப்படத் தகுதியுடையவனாக இருந்தாலும்—அவனுடைய பலகல்வியும் வீணே.
" A sovereign king or a king hearing these three does not recognize the best of the three is in vain even though he heard many."
FAQs
True dharma in leadership requires discernment (viveka): knowledge is validated by right understanding and right choice, not by mere accumulation of learning.
Kumbhakarṇa begins a pointed critique of ineffective kingship—hearing counsel but failing to identify and adopt what is best.
Practical wisdom: the capacity to select the best course from competing options.