Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 64, Shloka 36
महोदर-वाक्यं कुम्भकर्ण-प्रतिषेधः
Mahodara’s Counsel and the Critique of Kumbhakarna’s Solo Assault
अदृष्टसैन्योह्यनवाप्तसंशयोरिपूनयुद्धेनजयन् जनाधिप ।यशश्चपुण्यं च महन्महीपतेश्रशियं च कीर्तिं च चिरं ।।।।
adṛṣṭasainyo hyanavāptasaṁśayo ripūn ayuddhena jayan janādhipa |
yaśaś ca puṇyaṁ ca mahan mahīpateḥ śriyaṁ ca kīrtiṁ ca ciram ||
ஓ ஜனாதிபா! படை சேதமின்றி, அச்சமும் ஐயமும் இன்றிப், போர் இன்றியே பகைவரை வெல்லும் மாபெரும் மன்னன்—அந்த மஹீபதி பெரும் யசமும் புண்ணியமும் பெற்று, நீடித்த செல்வமும் கீர்த்தியும் அடைகிறான்.
"O Lord of the people! If a king conquers his enemy without any loss of army, without facing any dangerand without war, such a mighty ruler of the earth will indeed earn fame and merit and attain prosperity."।।ityārṣēvālmīkīyēśrīmadrāmāyaṇēādikāvyēyuddhakāṇḍēcatuṣṣaṣṭitamassargaḥ।।This is the end of the sixty fourth sarga of Yuddha Kanda of the first epic the holy Ramayana composed by sage Valmiki.
FAQs
It upholds rāja-dharma: a ruler should seek victory with minimum violence and risk, protecting his people and army; true greatness is measured by restraint and welfare, not by needless bloodshed.
By valuing outcomes achieved without deceitful or destructive conflict, it implies that a king’s glory should rest on transparent, responsible action aligned with truth and public good, leading to enduring kīrti (reputation).