युद्धकाण्डे द्वादशः सर्गः — रावणस्य परिषद्-सम्बोधनं कुम्भकर्णस्य नीत्युपदेशश्च
Ravana’s Council Address and Kumbhakarna’s Counsel
सर्वमेतन्महाराजकृतमप्रतिमंतव ।विधीयेतसहास्माभिरादावेवास्यकर्मणः ।।6.12.29।।
sarvam etan mahārāja kṛtam apratimaṃ tava |
vidhīyeta sahāsmābhir ādāvevā sya karmaṇaḥ ||6.12.29||
Muôn việc ấy, hỡi Đại vương, đều do một mình ngài làm nên; giá như ngay từ đầu, việc này được định liệu cùng chúng tôi thì tốt biết bao.
"Great king! If you had discussed with us about all this action earlier, it would have been very good."
A dharmic ruler seeks counsel and accepts accountability. Acting unilaterally—especially in morally charged matters—undermines rājadharma and leads to collective harm.
Kumbhakarṇa criticizes Rāvaṇa for acting alone in the matter that provoked war, instead of consulting his advisors earlier.
The virtue emphasized is good governance through consultation (mantra), highlighting the ethical role of advisors and deliberation in statecraft.