Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 63, Shloka 2
कुम्भकर्णोपदेशः
Kumbhakarna’s Counsel and War-Boast to Ravana
दृष्टोदोषोहियोऽस्माभिःपुरामन्त्रन्वििर्णये ।हितेष्वनभियुक्तेनसोऽयमासादितस्त्वया ।।6.63.2।।
dṛṣṭo doṣo hi yo ’smābhiḥ purā mantranirṇaye | hiteṣv anabhiyuktena so ’yam āsāditas tvayā ||6.63.2||
Tai họa mà ta đã thấy trước từ xưa khi bàn mưu định kế—vì ngươi không nương tựa đúng mức nơi những người thật lòng vì lợi ích của ngươi—nay đã giáng xuống ngươi.
" A ruler should know those ministers bribed by the enemy, who have become close to the enemy and appear as friends. Those ministers must be known through their behaviour in the deliberations."
FAQs
Right governance (rāja-dharma) requires listening to truthful, well-intentioned counsel; ignoring well-wishers leads to self-caused ruin.
Kumbhakarṇa admonishes Rāvaṇa, stating that the present crisis is the result of earlier failures in counsel and decision-making.
Prudence and receptivity to good advice—valuing honest counsel over pride.