Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 6, Shloka 10
रावणस्य मन्त्रविचारः
Ravana’s Council on Strategy
गुणदोषौवनिशिचत्य त्यक्त्यादैवव्यपाश्रयम् ।।6.6.10।।करिष्यामीतियःकार्यमुपेक्षेत्सनराधमः ।
guṇadoṣau va niścitya tyaktvā daivavyapāśrayam |
kariṣyāmīti yaḥ kāryam upekṣet sa narādhamaḥ ||6.6.10||
ผู้ใดไม่พิจารณาคุณและโทษ ละทิ้งการพึ่งพาเทวะคือชะตากรรม แล้วลงมือทำกิจด้วยความคิดว่า “เราผู้เดียวจักทำได้” และเพิกเฉยต่อสิ่งควรคำนึง—ผู้นั้นชื่อว่าเลวทรามที่สุดในหมู่มนุษย์
"He who fails to consider the merits and de merits, decides to do on his own and begins without faith in god saying, 'I' will do it, is a lowly one among men."
FAQs
Dharma in governance requires discernment (guṇa-doṣa-vicāra) and humility. Acting from ego—“I alone”—without assessing consequences violates responsible action and truth-oriented judgment (Satya).
Rāvaṇa outlines standards of sound decision-making to his rākṣasa assembly in the wake of crisis caused by Hanumān.
The virtue taught is prudence: careful evaluation, non-egotism, and accountable initiative.