Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 64, Shloka 8
महोदर-वाक्यं कुम्भकर्ण-प्रतिषेधः
Mahodara’s Counsel and the Critique of Kumbhakarna’s Solo Assault
निश्श्रेयसफलावेवधर्मार्थावितरावपि ।अधर्मानर्थयोःप्राप्तिःफलं च प्रत्यवायिकम् ।।।।
niḥśreyasaphalāv eva dharmārthāv itarāv api | adharmānarthayoḥ prāptiḥ phalaṃ ca pratyavāyikam ||
தர்மமும் அர்த்தமும்—மற்ற புருஷார்த்தங்களும் கூட—யதாவிதமாகப் பின்பற்றப்பட்டால் நிஃஶ்ரேயஸாகிய நல்விளைவைத் தரும்; ஆனால் அதர்மமும் அனர்த்தமும் எதிர்மாறான, பிரத்யவாயம் உடைய, துயர்தரும் விளைவையே அளிக்கும்.
" All virtues and worldly pleasures and even otherwise give only benefit. But if done with disinterest and unrighteousness it can give a result which is other than prosperity."
FAQs
Dharma is presented as the condition for truly auspicious outcomes; adharma inevitably yields pratyavāya—reversal, loss, and downfall.
In evaluating war-policy and life-goals, the speaker underscores that unrighteous means corrupt even desirable ends.
Moral clarity: the insistence that ends do not sanctify means; righteousness is integral to success.