Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 63, Shloka 10
कुम्भकर्णोपदेशः
Kumbhakarna’s Counsel and War-Boast to Ravana
त्रिषुचैतेषुयच्छ्रेष्ठंश्रुत्वातन्नावबुध्यते ।राजावाराजमात्रोवाव्यर्थंतस्यबहुश्रुतम् ।।6.63.10।।
triṣu caiteṣu yac chreṣṭhaṁ śrutvā tan nāvabudhyate |
rājā vā rājamātro vā vyarthaṁ tasya bahuśrutam || 6.63.10 ||
Trong ba điều ấy, nếu một vị vua—hay người xứng danh là vua—nghe điều tối thiện mà vẫn không hiểu, thì mọi điều học rộng của kẻ ấy đều thành uổng phí.
" A sovereign king or a king hearing these three does not recognize the best of the three is in vain even though he heard many."
FAQs
True dharma in leadership requires discernment (viveka): knowledge is validated by right understanding and right choice, not by mere accumulation of learning.
Kumbhakarṇa begins a pointed critique of ineffective kingship—hearing counsel but failing to identify and adopt what is best.
Practical wisdom: the capacity to select the best course from competing options.