Shloka 25
युद्धकाण्डे द्वादशः सर्गः — रावणस्य परिषद्-सम्बोधनं कुम्भकर्णस्य नीत्युपदेशश्च
Ravana’s Council Address and Kumbhakarna’s Counsel
अदेयाचयथासीतावध्यौदशरथात्मजौ ।भवद्भिर्मन्त्र्यतांमन्त्रस्सुनीतंचाभिधीयताम् ।।6.12.25।।
adeyā ca yathā sītā vadhyau daśarathātmajau |
bhavadbhir mantryatāṃ mantraḥ sunītaṃ cābhidhīyatām ||6.12.25||
ฉะนั้นจงปรึกษาอุบายเถิด ว่าจะทำอย่างไรให้ไม่ต้องคืนพระนางสีดา และให้โอรสแห่งทศรถถูกสังหารได้; จงตรึกตรองให้ถี่ถ้วน แล้วทูลเสนอแก่เราซึ่งยุทธวิธีอันถูกต้องเหมาะสม.
"You may also think over and suggest to me a plan to kill Rama and Lakshmana without giving Sita."
FAQs
By contrast, the verse illustrates adharma: refusing restitution (returning Sītā) and seeking unjust killing. The Ramayana uses such counsel to show how unrighteous intent corrodes kingship.
Facing Rāma’s approach, Rāvaṇa presses his council for a strategy to keep Sītā and destroy Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa.
The need for righteous counsel (su-nīti) is invoked—ironically—showing how even the language of prudence can be misused when the goal is unethical.