Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 64, Shloka 14
महोदर-वाक्यं कुम्भकर्ण-प्रतिषेधः
Mahodara’s Counsel and the Critique of Kumbhakarna’s Solo Assault
तंसिंहमिवसङ्क्रुद्धंरामंदशरथात्मजम् ।सर्पंसुप्तमिवबुद्ध्यप्रबोधयितुमिच्छसि ।।।।
taṃ siṃham iva saṅkruddhaṃ rāmaṃ daśarathātmajam |
sarpaṃ suptam iva buddhyā prabodhayitum icchasi ||
کیا تم جانتے بوجھتے رام، دشرتھ کے فرزند، کو—جو غضبناک شیر کی مانند اور سوئے ہوئے سانپ کی مانند ہے—جگانا چاہتے ہو؟
"Do you desire to awaken Rama, who is like an enraged lion knowingly, who is like a sleeping snake?"
FAQs
Dharma includes saṃyama (restraint) and avoidance of needless escalation. Knowingly provoking a destructive conflict is portrayed as folly rather than valor.
Mahodara warns Kumbhakarṇa that confronting Rāma is like awakening a dangerous force that was better left unprovoked.
Caution informed by intelligence (buddhi): recognizing when an action will unleash disproportionate harm.