Valmiki Ramayana 6.64.11 — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 64, Shloka 11

महोदर-वाक्यं कुम्भकर्ण-प्रतिषेधः

Mahodara’s Counsel and the Critique of Kumbhakarna’s Solo Assault

Devanagari script

एकस्यैवाभियानेतुहेतुर्यःकथितस्त्वया ।तत्राप्यनुपपन्नंतेवक्ष्यामियदसाधु च ।।।।

Transliteration

ekasyaivābhiyāne tu hetur yaḥ kathitas tvayā |

tatrāpy anupapannaṃ te vakṣyāmi yad asādhu ca ||

Translation

اور جہاں تک تمہارے اکیلے روانہ ہونے کا تعلق ہے—جو سبب تم نے بیان کیا ہے—وہاں بھی میں کہوں گا کہ وہ ناموزوں اور نادرست ہے۔ میں تمہیں بتاؤں گا کہ کیوں۔

Word by Word

• ekasya: of one/for one
• ekasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular; used adjectivally

• eva: alone
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (अवधारण)

• abhiyāne: in the expedition/setting out
• abhiyāne: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: abhiyāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• tu: however
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात)

• hetuḥ: reason
• hetuḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hetu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• yaḥ: which
• yaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; relative pronoun

• kathitaḥ: stated
• kathitaḥ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kath (धातु)
• Form: Past participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; passive sense ‘stated’

• tvayā: by you
• tvayā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yuzmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun; Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• tatra: there/in that
• tatra: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (देशवाचक अव्यय)

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (अपि)

• anupapannam: inconsistent/ill-founded
• anupapannam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anupapanna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; predicate adjective

• te: to you
• te: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yuzmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun; Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular; enclitic

• vakṣyāmi: I will tell
• vakṣyāmi: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: Future (लृट्), 1st person (उत्तमपुरुष), Singular; Parasmaipada

• yat: that which
• yat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; relative pronoun referring to the content

• asādhu: improper
• asādhu: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: asādhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; adjective qualifying yat

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय)

Context

"You have set out alone (for war) and the reason adduced by you is ill conceived and improper. I shall tell you."

Characters & Entities

• Kumbhakarṇa

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

Dharma here is expressed as truthful counsel (satya-vacana) and responsible decision-making: a leader/warrior should not rely on ill-reasoned motives, especially when lives and the community’s fate are at stake.

What is the narrative situation?

Mahodara challenges Kumbhakarṇa’s stated rationale for marching out alone, positioning himself as a corrective voice within the Rākṣasa assembly.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Nīti (prudent counsel) and satya (frankness): Mahodara claims the duty to point out what is logically and ethically unsound.